Garth Webb Park

In line with Councillor Kara Cook’s strategic plan to activate local spaces and pocket parks within her electorate, Garth Webb Park has been completely overhauled with brand new equipment, softfall and landscaping to encourage active play and spark the imaginations people of all ages in the Camp Hill area.

The initial sketch and design brief from Brisbane City Design featured a nature treehouse inspired theme, which was developed into the current park design in conjunction with the Brisbane City Council Landscape Architects and the Playscape Creations Design Team.

A key design consideration for this site are the extensive tree protection zones; in order to protect the existing established trees, footings were designed to be outside the tree protection zones, and vacuum excavation was undertaken to ensure none of the footings impacted the tree roots.

The main play unit – The Giddy Green from Playdale – features a multitude of active play value for children aged 2-5 years, with climbing towers, elevated outlooks, a slide, sensory panels and role play opportunities.  The neutral green colouring is aesthetically soft, blending into the surrounding natural environment.

Active play elements have been installed around the main play structure, with a swing, see saw and balance beam helping children to build their proprioceptive and vestibular ability.

To encourage discovery through the space, a number of hide and seek Animal themed medallions have been concealed throughout the play items, allowing children to explore and learn as they find the hidden pieces.

One of the most magical parts of this pocket park, however, is the custom hand-carved fairy door and stools.  Constructed from Australian Hardwood Timber, each of the stools in inlayed with a beautiful resin fairy scene, and the fairy door itself encourages imaginative play as children try to find the fairies that live in the park.

The Childcare Centre adjacent to the park will also use the facilities to encourage active play for their children during the day, with the imagination aspect and general layout of the park a huge drawcard for the educators.

Garth Webb Park is a beautiful example of how a mixture of standard and bespoke play elements can come together to create a magical space for people of all ages, abilities and cultural backgrounds.