The Ground
Nestled in the heart of Auckland’s inner city, Newton Central School in Grey Lynn is home to a diverse school community. A commitment of both its past and present members has also ensured the school’s forest/ngahere is a designated ‘Inner City Forest’, rich in flora, fauna, and taonga.

The school wanted a playground that would fit into the natural environment of the site and accommodate large numbers of students at one time. Located at the back of the field, Pohutukawa trees line the edge of the narrow site; an aspect our team needed to consider when it came to the playground design.

The Creation
Natural materials played a key role in the design of Newton Central School’s Junior Playground. Included in the natural timber structures were a Monkey Bar, Vortex Net, Honeycomb Scramble, Overhead Loop Ladder, Hanging Stepping Logs, Slalom Rope, Wobbly Log Bridge, Scramble Net, Scale Wall, Jungle Burmese Bridge, Rock Wall, Hand Toe Wall, Slide Pole and Shop Front.

To maximise a sloped site next to the playground, our team included an eight-metre-long embankment slide, providing Tamariki with the opportunity to experience the feeling of freedom as only a slide can!

A Single Bay Basket Swing with Strap Seat Overhang was also incorporated into the design.

The Play
Designed for the school’s junior Tamariki (aged 5-8 years), this playground allowed for all ages to experience the magic of play. Inclusive play can be had on the basket swing by Tamariki young and old, while those seeking an imaginative play experience can gravitate to the shop front.

The layout of the playground equipment boasts a combination of overhead equipment which targets the upper body. Structures that encourage climbing, sliding, and balancing give children a variety of ways to move throughout the play space while feeling challenged enough to build strength and confidence.

Although the inner-city site for this playground presented its challenges, the result is a play space where Tamariki throughout the school community can experience and enjoy play for every day.