Sirius Street Reserve Playground Upgrading Proposal

UPDATE JUNE 2020 - UPGRADE COMPLETE

The new playground was carefully designed to work in with the steep landform and to capitalise on the deeply shaded garden setting. A major focus of the new design was to increase accessibility which was quite a challenge on such a steep site. A new graded pathway leads from the street to the main level of the terraced play space. This accessible level has a durable rubber surface and a range of play equipment that caters to all levels of mobility including an all-access swing, a multi-person carriage rocker, a spinning cable pyramid and a custom designed cubby space with a talk-tube that connects with the lookout platform on the lower level.

The playground features extensive gardens and the natural landform is used to create stimulating play activities including a double width embankment slide and a challenging, sloped scramble-net. New sandstone steps with functional handrails provide easy access between the various play levels and connect the playground with the rest of the Reserve.

The original playground had a maritime theme and in response to community suggestions, Council has retained this theme; adding a beautiful sandstone pelican sculpture and genuine maritime elements including a ship’s bollard and a repurposed pier post.

With ample new seating, an accessible bubbler with bottle refill station and upgraded fencing, carers are afforded multiple vantage points across the playground, while children are offered a dramatically increased range of activities.

Sirius Street Reserve Playground now offers a great new community focal point where local children and families can meet and socialise in a glorious, leafy outdoor setting.

UPDATE JANUARY 2020

Thank you to those that participated in the community survey regarding the upgrading of Sirius Street Reserve Playground. The results indicated resounding majority support for the upgrading work proceeding.

Many of the survey participants took the time to make comments and suggestions and Council will be endeavouring to incorporate these where ever feasible. Some initial amendments to the final design include those listed below:

• Upgrading of park boundary fence along Milson Road
• Installation of an accessible bubbler and bottle refill station
• Increased low-maintenance planting, particularly along eastern boundary
• Retention of the maritime theme in the detailing of equipment
• Upgrading of embankment slide to a double slide
• Substitution of spinning rocker for alternative balancing and climbing activities

Funding is allocated for this project in the North Sydney Delivery Program and the work is scheduled for completion in the 2019/20 financial year. Council looks forward to providing the local community with a fabulous new playground facility.

BACKGROUND

The existing playground was approximately 20 years old and is in need of refurbishment. Council is keen to capitalise on the beautiful leafy character of this small reserve to create a new play space that sits neatly into the site and provides a diverse range of activities that are both stimulating for children and aesthetically pleasing for all visitors and neighbours. Council aims to maximise play-value, to improve accessibility and to create an attractive, landscaped space. Funding was allocated in the North Sydney Delivery Program and the work is scheduled for completion in the current financial year.

Playground Concept

Sirius Street Reserve has a wonderful tree canopy which provides a beautiful setting for an intimate local playground. The existing terracing and gardens that extend down the slope establish the character for the proposed new playground. The Concept shows a series of interconnected play areas separated by low stone retaining walls and landscaped embankments, with stone steps, like those that already exist in the Reserve.

What’s proposed?

The new space will:

• Complement the existing leafy character of the Reserve
• Incorporate the surrounding canopy trees, gardens and landscaping as integral components of the design
• Provide a variety of play equipment for a range of ages and abilities, offering inclusive play opportunities in the accessible portions of this relatively steep site
• Provide a pleasant environment for parents and carers with an adequate amount of seating positioned to facilitate easy supervision
• Provide maximum play value by offering many different types of activities (spinning, swinging, sliding, bouncing, balancing etc.)

Community feedback was open from 20 November 2019 to 6 January 2020.

If you would like further information on this proposal, please contact Melissa McManus on 9936 8100.