Southeast Asia Building – May-June 2018

SPECIAL FEATURE Playground Equipment

88 SEAB MAY-JUNE 2018

T

he National Parks Board in
Singapore planned for additional
recreation facilities to include
play at the longest stretch of beach front
in Singapore. A specialist Landscape
Architect, Mr Grant Smith, partnered
with Surbana Jurong Consultants
to design a play area that would be
different, unique and consistent with
the lifestyle at East Coast Park.
The resulting design was a 16,478
square metre family-friendly and
outdoor public playground for children
of all ages and abilities. CT-Art Creation
Pte Ltd, a specialist in providing quality
playground equipment in Singapore,
was engaged to manage the project
from start to finish.
Called ‘Destination Park Playground’,
the play areas are separated into
adventure, families, toddlers, children,
electronic zones. Creating multi-level
terrains with rich colours encourages a
sense of discovery and developmental
learning for young children where they
can experience different play activities
as they grow up with more motor and
social skills.
An Iconic Tower was specially
designed by “The Leisure Way” with
multi-level slides and connecting
bridges that allow for hundreds of
children to play with a sense of risk and
adventure. The playground meets with
the highest level of safety standards and
practices. Regular maintenance is also
carried out to ensure sustainability and
safety.

What were your reasons for

choosing this playground design/

concept/theme for Marine Cove?

The playground at Marine Cove adopts

a marine theme that is inspired by its

environment and aquatic life that inhabits

the sea. This is subtly revealed through

the design and use of contours, colours

and materials.

How did you select the location for

this playground at Marine Cove?

The redevelopment of Marine Cove was

part of a phased master plan to create new

nodes to strengthen the coastal character

of the park and to meet the increasing

recreational needs of park visitors. It was

developed based on a family and lifestyle

concept with family-friendly facilities

including the popular 3,500 square

metres children’s playground.

What is the targeted age range

of this playground? And did you

consider children with disabilities?

The playground offers a range of play

Interview with Kartini Omar, Group Director, Parks

Development & Jurong Lake Gardens, National Parks

Board, Singapore

equipment suitable for children from two

to 12 years old.

Older children aged five to 12 years

can explore the three-storey play tower

at the centre of the playground. The tower

is connected to three slides of different

levels and a rope bridge. Kids can also

climb up the tower through a funnel net

in the middle. Children aged two to five

years can also have fun with talking tubes,

fun mirrors and a drum set.

The playground has incorporated

inclusive elements to encourage children

of different abilities to play together. The

inclusive play equipment is designed

with a range of motions, such as spinning,

rocking and swinging to improve muscle

control. For example, the swing set

stimulates a child’s sense of balance and

eye movement and there is an accessible

swing seat equipped with a safety

harness. Other special needs-friendly

equipment include sensory play panels

that help to develop a sense of discovery,

motor skills, hand-eye coordination,

rhythm and movement, and lengthen

attention span. The play zones have been

designed to allow children on wheelchairs

to join in the play.