“That every child has the right to rest and leisure, to engage in play and recreational activities appropriate to the age of the child and to participate freely in cultural life and the arts.

That member governments shall respect and promote the right of the child to participate fully in cultural and artistic life and shall encourage the provision of appropriate and equal opportunities for cultural, artistic, recreational and leisure activity.”

Challenges recognised in the realisation of this Article are many but include a lack of awareness of the importance of play and recreation.

“Parents, caregivers and public administrators commonly place a higher priority on studying or economic work, while play is often seen as noisy, dirty, disruptive and intrusive. Moreover, adults often lack the confidence, skill or understanding to enable them to support children’s play and interact with them in a playful way. Both the right of children to engage in play and recreation, and its fundamental importance for their well-being, health and development, are poorly understood and undervalued. When it is recognised, it is usually physically active play and competitive games that are valued above, for example, fantasy or social-dramatic play.”

The balance of risk and safety and a lack of access to nature are seen as focal points against the pressure for educational achievement, overly structured schedules and the growing role of electronic media.

Every child deserves the right to play – to develop their cognitive, social and collaborative skills with imaginative play, creativity and not least of all physical activity.

Read the full Article here.

Research shows that children who have opportunities to play in natural settings are typically healthier, happier and more likely to appreciate the natural world around them.

Our Nature Inspired play equipment blends the adventure and wonder of nature with the latest in playground innovation.  They capture children’s imaginations with the look and feel of real bark and rock, while offering the durability, safety and low maintenance demanded in a high quality play structure.

Combine these benefits with those only Mother Nature can provide by incorporating trees, plants and gardens into the play environment to strike the perfect balance between the natural and the man-made, creating the optimal setting for child-directed free play.

Download the Natural Play chapter of our Catalogue

Sensory experience, discovery and exploration, balance and climbing – and best of all, safety and low maintenance!

A great range of colours allow you to brighten up fresh designs and complement existing spaces.

We’re so excited with these developments and the potential to incorporate sensory natural elements in our playground designs too!

This will be fantastic in all applications – and not only fits in with our passion for sustainable playspaces, but also with our passion for natural, multi generational, sensory stimulating environments.

Our resident Landscape Architect, Tobias Volbert, is presenting at the upcoming AILDM seminar on 16th March at Loganholme, in conjunction with Impact Grasses, where we are conducting ongoing research in this field.

See the flyer below for additional information, and to register for this event, go to http://www.aildm.com.au

AILDM Seminar – Impact Grasses

Tobias Volbert has recently hosted 4 presentations, including one in Townsville for Project Services with excellent demand and attendance.

These presentations are arranged through Architectural Information Services but can be booked by contacting our office.

The below testimonials demonstrate the benefits gained across the various market sectors who contribute to the planning and designing of our community recreational spaces.

“Tobias skills and background as a landscape architect are clearly evident as is his knowledge and experience in the sphere of Inclusive Playscapes.

Through his presentation he imparts essential knowledge and expands upon the concepts and philosophy of inclusive play, and defines the parameters continually redefine the world of access and accessibility,

There is a ‘breaking down the barriers’ approach where play involves stimulating the senses, where diversity in age and ability, are considered equally and without isolating or discriminating against a user group.

The discussion on the benefits of this holistic approach was both relevant and educational and had parallels that go well beyond the landscape of the playground, and should extend into contemporary Urban Design and the Built Environment.”

Richard Foster
Principal Architect, Project Service NQ

“Tobias presented an engaging and thought provoking CPD presentation to both the architects and landscape architects.  The title premised the requirements of playgrounds for those with disabilities, however we gained a deeper understanding of the benefits of sensory and tactile experiences in play structures, and NOT just the physical accessibility. Everyone who attended thoroughly enjoyed it and went away thinking further about the benefits of thoughtful, accessible playground design.”

The great outdoors is still the number-one spot for truly unstructured play. Free play allows children to do what comes naturally to them – make up their own games, develop their own rules, explore their world with gusto.  Time spent playing outdoors encourages children to exercise their bodies along with their cognitive and social abilities, helping them develop vital skills they need to become positive, productive adults.

Whether on an innovative play structure or deep in the woods, children playing outside are more apt to stretch their imaginations along with their muscles, playing more freely as they literally swing from one adventure to another.

Research now shows a direct connection between daily exposure to natural environments and children’s health.  Richard Louv, author of national bestseller Last Child in the Woods, directly links the lack of nature in the lives of today’s wired generation to disturbing childhood trends such as rises in obesity, attention disorders and depression.

But if we take it back simply – Play Time Leads to Brain Gain - Article from The West Australian

“imaginative play needs to be protected from the threat of tight schedules, the early take up of TV, DVD’s and computer games… an intense focus on early achievement and a lack of opportunity to take chances and learn limits” Dr Caunt – Child and Adolescent Health Service

Our Sustainability Philosophy starts with our own internal processes.  We have started implementing initiatives of recycling rubber and concrete on site with pre-built frameworks that we can then donate to local charities as planter boxes and rubber seats, as well as adopting internal office recycling practices.

This is just the start.  We are investing a lot of effort in improving our own sustainability practices with the goal of becoming a carbon neutral company in the future.

Carbon Compensation – Considering our Future 

We realize that every manufacturing process generates CO² emissions which can be harmful to our environment. Our commitment is to plant a sufficient number of trees to compensate the CO² emitted during the manufacturing process.

Each Playground or Recreational Space that we create comes with a data sheet showing the amount of CO² generated during the manufacturing process, along with the number of trees required to compensate this emission.  As a part of each Project, we donate these trees to a local community group of our Client’s choice.  We also donate a customised sign (above) on site for certain valued projects to show  the Community that the Client is committed to a sustainable environment.

It is our gift to our Clients, and our Community

“Sustainable development is development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.” 

(Brundtland commission)

What do you like most about the industry?

What I like most about the industry is that, in our own funny way, we (as playground people) are contributing back into the community…. That our playgrounds provide an opportunity for children (and adults) to experience pleasure and laughter; to grow, to explore and to just be kids in a kids’ world.

What do you like most about PSC?

What I like most about PSC is the wholesome culture within; which couldn’t be achieved without the pure kindness and inspiring uniqueness of each employee. There is a strong sense of honesty and integrity as a whole as well as a true strength of passion for what we do within the playground industry.

What was your highlight at PSC so far?

Which one would you be referring to?

Why was it a highlight?

I guess the biggest highlight for me (thus far) is feeling part of a team again…… but most of all feeling like I’m in the right team and working for the right reasons.

What is your favourite recreational item we provide?

I suppose it would have to be the Adventurescapes. I love climbing and being challenged…… I grew up clambering up rocks and different trees…. escaping into the bush and/or school ‘woods’ to pursue great heights. The Adventurescapes give me the same sensation and remind me of the rich play and stimulation nature play once gave me. It’s a wonderful realisation that the same opportunity can be offered to a child living in a bustling city where trees and rocks are few and far between.

What is your Motto in life?

Mine changes every week - but the latest is:

‘Life isn’t about waiting for the storm to pass…. It’s about learning to dance in the rain”

From the Manager’s Desk

As this year closes, we have again witnessed amazing development within the parks and recreation environment.  The Industry is becoming more educated and are more aware of global product availability, hence manufacturers and suppliers are kept on their toes to provide the best solutions in this evolving market.  Fortunately for us we have some great supply partners, and have unique product offerings that interface perfectly with the industry demands.

But that’s only half the story – not only do companies have to provide great and innovative product, they also have to be able to deliver a finished, installed product fit for use.  The building code now requires some modern equipment and features to have engineered footings to suit local soil conditions.  In QLD, supply companies need to be licensed builders to perform the on-site work.  Today’s projects have gone beyond “installation.  The term “construction” is now far more apt in expressing what really takes place.

In the past few months we have invested heavily in our “Construction” arm both in machinery and in people.  New ground engaging machinery and a specially outfitted construction truck provides a most efficient ‘on-site’ construction outfit.  Teamed with trained and experienced people, we proudly offer a total construction crew that can comfortably deliver quality product installations on all levels.

We are proud to announce that Playscape Creations has recently been accepted as a member of Master Builders – a peak industry association that has been representing building and construction since 1882.  Headed by our Construction Manager, Garry McIntosh, and Site Supervisor, Justin Young, both QBSA licensed construction supervisors, our teams include trained industry specific technicians and trades people to ensure a well constructed project.

It has been a privilege to be involved in some amazing project deliveries this year, and we thank all of you, our clients, for your ongoing support.  Yes, 2013 will bring more new product to the market place and we will be only too pleased to demonstrate our product and professional service capability.

Wishing you all a Happy Christmas and a prosperous New Year.

Marcel Veraart

Sustainability – Materials to Long Term Usability

Our sustainability vision is to maintain a balance between the environmental, social and economical aspects of Recreational Playspace Design.  Our holistic approach starts with participation with stakeholders to ensure that the outcome meets the needs – ensuring that the investment will be valued and utilised by the community for many years to come.

We have committed to planting a sufficient number of trees to compensate the CO2 emitted during the manufacturing process for each playground or recreational space that we create.  Each project comes with a corresponding data sheet that clearly outlines its carbon footprint and not only do the plantings improve the environment – they increase the natural beauty of the project.  Landscaping and plantings are often incorporated into our designs.

Sustainability has also always been an important part of Landscape Structure’s culture, even before there was a word for it.  Continuing to seek new ways of improving their sustainable design practices, Landscape Structures sources materials with recycled content when possible, and we all encourage our customers to recycle playground materials at the end of its life.  See our Material Lifecycle document for more information.

Natural Softfall Plantings

In an effort to find more natural alternatives in playgrounds, Fiona Robbe Landscape Architects and Ozbreed have worked together researching, testing and gaining standards approval for incorporating non-woody plantings in mulch in and around playground equipment without compromising safety.

We’re so excited with these developments and the potential to incorporate sensory natural elements in our playground designs too!

This will be fantastic in all applications – and not only fits in with our passion for sustainable playspaces, but also with our passion for natural, multi generational, sensory stimulating environments.

Riverbank Park – Caboolture QLD

It’s not often that we work on a major development that is predominantly designed for junior play, but this playspace for PEET Developments, with Cardno Splat was a great teaming in achieving outstanding design and architectural effect.

Our Weevos design was the perfect fit, offering stimulating play opportunities for the younger years.  Independent motion pieces for the older children and the surrounding natural environment has resulted in a playspace that the whole community can enjoy.

See the full project profile here

Justin Young – Construction Site Supervisor, QLD

Over the past year, Justin has gone to extraordinary lengths to grow personally, but also to ensure he can help the company to grow.  Justin’s aim is to become the best supervisor at Playscape Creations, running several projects concurrently, and ultimately to train and share his knowledge from management level over time.  Justin is passionate about the direction the company is taking and his initiative works towards ensuring that he is a strong part of the Company’s development.

Justin has completed his Site Supervisor’s qualification in Structural Landscaping at TAFE.  Health and Safety, Native Flora management and erosion control and management are just some of the fields of expertise that Justin can add to our work both on site during construction, but also in the planning and design phase.

Life just continues to grow for Justin with the birth of his son earlier this year too – at least we know little Jackson will have some awesome playspaces to enjoy as he gets older!