Central Otago District Council (CODC) recently went out to the community to share a concept design for a new play space for the Clyde River Park on Miners Lane and ask for feedback.

In a statement, CODC says Seventy-four people completed an online survey to give feedback, and three classes of students and the Enviroschools group from Clyde School shared stories, artwork and suggestions with Council.

“Those completing the survey were asked to give the concept a mark out of 5 stars and it scored an average of 4 stars, with a great deal of positive feedback from the community about its river and heritage theme, and the star piece of a climbing structure to mimic Clyde's iconic red bridge.”

Council's parks and project staff have worked through the feedback with play space design and build specialist company Creo and made a few design tweaks as a result. 

“One theme that came through feedback was accessibility. To address this the designers have redirected the flow of the ‘pour and play river’ so it will weave its way on over to the swings to make the basket swing more easily accessible.

“The team also took on feedback about the slide’s orientation and will flip it, so it is not north facing, to mitigate the issue of it getting too hot in the summer sun.”

Local primary school students designed their ideal playground, with many wanting a flying fox or zip line. 

Clyde Primary students were given the opportunity to put forward ideas for the new Clyde playground.

“Other ideas and suggestions for improvements raised, which included extending the scooter track or adding additional play features such as a zip line or flying fox, were not possible to accommodate at this stage due to the project’s budget constraints,” the ODC statement says. 

“The team also felt that safety concerns would be allayed when people were able to access and see the site first-hand the result of earthworks and natural safety features that have been created – such as rock perimeter edging, retaining walls and natural bunds. 

“Also important to stress is the fact that Miners Lane will be a one-way route and the playground design and installation will have independent assessor sign off that it meets NZ playground safety standards.”

The intention is to get orders in for play equipment this side of Christmas and the playground built ready for local and visiting children to play on it by May next year.

Clyde Primary student Caleb Hill with his playground plan.