Mount Gambier Railway Lands Playspace
Since its official opening in 2015, the Mount Gambier Railway Lands has fast become an active, inner-city public space enjoyed by residents and visitors alike.
The popular 'Rail Trail' pedestrian and cycle paths have expanded connectivity from across Mount Gambier with the precinct, making the Railway Lands a fantastic central destination for recreation, community events and informal gatherings.
A key component of the Railway Lands design is the purpose-built play space featuring a creek bed, shelters, barbecue and picnic space, artworks and several key play pieces. This location has been a deliberate pilot site for the application of nature play design principles which encourage outdoor unstructured play activities for children, and feature natural elements such as logs, rocks, sand and water, opposed to conventional manufactured or kit-form play equipment.
Nature play is known to encourage children to challenge themselves, calculate risk, learn about their own abilities and use creativity and imagination. More about the principles of nature play are available on the Nature Play SA web site.
Building on the existing design, the City of Mount Gambier is seeking to further enhance the nature play area at the Railway Lands. We'd like to hear your thoughts about:
- What's great about the current play features - what should we keep the way it is?
- What play elements would make it even better?
- What else could we consider for the Railway Lands that make it a great place for people of all ages and abilities?
You can share your ideas by:
- Sharing your thoughts on our ideas board
- Posting examples of your ideas from places that you love on our ideas board
- Drawing or sketching your ideas on this form and uploading them
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We've been talking about our play spaces with our children and families for a while. Thinking about the Railway Lands, so far we've heard the following themes:
- Play features with more height - a challenge to climb and see the space from a different perspective.
- More ways to have fun with the water in the creek bed - through some new water-play elements.
- Ways to incorporate the old rail platform - potentially including streets, traffic lights and signs for children learning to ride bikes safely.
Do you agree with these ideas? What else could we consider?
Share your thoughts by describing your ideas to make the nature play space even better, giving a to an idea that you like; or sharing a picture or a photo of other nature play spaces that you love.
View All Ideasover 1 year ago
All abilities playground
Great example at Portland. Equipment for all children for use.
over 1 year ago
Splash pad
In Warrnambool at new playground they have a splash pad with a very very shallow creek running from the run off
over 1 year ago
Skate park
for a new place to ride and need something central in town
over 1 year ago
upgrade bbq's so they cook food instead of just warming it
over 1 year ago
Shaded Toddler and Baby picnic areas on grass or soft ground
Shaded Toddler and Baby picnic areas on grass or soft ground not paved areas A lot of mothers group like to go and have a catch up but there isn't many areas they can sit and let babies lay/roll/crawl under shade while they help their own mental health with adult conversation As someone else suggested an enclosed toddler areas with imaginative/creative play ie: mud kitchen, shop keeper stand, puppet show stand, mounted musical instamets, ground piano and pretend to be a train driver with a stearing wheel and pull train whistle The learn to ride area would be great too
Introducing nature play at The Rail
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Nature play is the City of Mount Gambier's Charter for Children in action. This video is a few years old now, but it's message is still relevant as we approach the redevelopment of the Railway Lands nature play area
