New adventure playground integrates nature at Morialta Conservation Park

Children are the winners at Morialta Conservation Park, where a new playground features active play ideas inspired by students and also incorporates themes from Aboriginal culture.

The $900,000 facilities upgrade – which includes bike trail networks, amenities and picnic facilities – is due for completion in August.

Five new themed play areas will be built across the Stradbroke Road picnic area –Frog Island, Eagle’s Perch, Great Snake, Bird Nests and climbing boulders, as well as paths, creeks and climbing trees.

At the Bird Nests play area, giant nests of different heights can be climbed and explored; at Frog Island children can discover an Aboriginal fire pit, search for animal carvings in the bush and use stepping stones to cross a creek.

Playground designers Peter Semple and Simon Hutchinson incorporated suggestions from Linden Park Primary School children who entered a State Government competition last year to design a national park using the Minecraft computer game.

Background

Morialta Conservation Park is located 10 kilometres from the CBD and is visited by about 300,000 people annually.

The State Government has committed $10.4 million to upgrade metropolitan national parks and reserves for the growing number of local residents who use outdoor recreational spaces.

Parks receiving the upgrades include Anstey Hill Recreation Park, Para Wirra Conservation Park, Cobbler Creek Recreation Park, Onkaparinga River National Park and Onkaparinga River Recreation Park, O’Halloran Hill Recreation Park and Hallett Cove Conservation Park.

Quotes attributable to Environment Minister Ian Hunter

As more and more South Australians get out and about in our beautiful parks and reserves, we want to make the experience safe and welcoming for all ages.

Morialta’s new park area will be an exciting place where kids can reconnect with unstructured outdoor play and discover the fun and beauty of nature for themselves.

See video concept flyover

Source
Ian Hunter
Government of South Australia