The adventure begins...
As Riverlea gears up for the unveiling of its first community park, anticipation and excitement is growing. With works in full swing, this isn't just any park – it's a contemporary blend of adventure, aesthetics and amenity, slated to become the heart and soul of the Kapinka Parade Precinct and surrounding neighbourhoods.
Just a stone’s throw away from the future Palms Shopping Village, the 5,000 m2 (half a hectare) park will undoubtedly morph into a key play destination within Riverlea – especially since over 60% of our residents are families with children, and a further 20% are young couples.
Designed by the renowned Place Design Group, the park will set the tone for the many future public spaces that will lend character to each of the neighbourhoods.
As Riverlea’s first community park, it was important the design responded to the many young families that are calling Riverlea home,” said Clint Wood, Director at Place Design Group.
The vision for the park was to create a safe oasis within the community, that offers opportunity for inclusive play of all ages as families grow.
The park has been ingeniously designed to weave together natural and custom-made attractions, ensuring a playground experience unlike any other. One of its striking features will be the awe-inspiring cubby structure, complete with a rope climb, foot bridge, and slide pole.
“The park is designed for discovery and adventure through winding paths and an elevated mound.” Clint said.
To achieve this, the design team have included natural timber stepping logs and artfully stacked stone walls, carousels, an embankment slide, and an array of accessible options to foster inclusion and opportunity for all.
The Riverlea team were also keen to use locally sourced materials and Australian-made play elements throughout the space.
“It was important for us to work with Australian-based playground manufacturers to source suitable play pieces that met the current and future demographic of Riverlea, whilst being capable of standing the test of time in Australian conditions”, said Adrian Smith, Walker Corporation’s Senior Project Manager for the project.
“Several elements will tie back to Riverlea’s landscape including our famous date palms and the large rock boulders, which also wrap around our entry lakes. These rocks contain various sea shells that were trapped in the rock layers from over four million years ago when the Gulf of St Vincent lapped against the Mt Lofty Ranges. These make for another exciting element for children to discover.”
In addition to the adventure, learning and discovery opportunities for the kids, the park will also offer drinking fountains, picnic shelters, barbecues and lawns – making it the ideal location for birthday parties and neighbourhood functions, social sports and activities, and even movie nights under the stars.
There will be ample car parking spaces to ensure visitors can access the reserve with ease, and special attention has been given to inclusivity with two dedicated disabled parking bays. For those who prefer a greener mode of transport, the park be easily reached on foot or by bike.
Strategically located, accessibly designed, and thoughtfully equipped, Riverlea's new neighbourhood park doesn’t just stand as a testament to community development but resonates with the ethos of inclusivity, adventure, and social connection.