The ACT Government is committed to delivering a new destination style play space for the inner north through upgrading the green space adjacent to Canberra Technology Park Watson. The space will provide a wide range of outdoor recreation opportunities for people of all ages and abilities to play outdoors, catering to nearby schools and childcare centres and attracting residents from a large catchment.

Canberra Technology Park in Watson will be revitalised and its green space protected and enhanced, under an agreement between the ACT Government and the Academy of Interactive Entertainment (AIE). This agreement sets terms and conditions for the direct sale of land to AIE in two stages and will allow AIE to develop a new purpose-built campus in Canberra that will serve as its global headquarters. The agreement also includes that AIE will make a significant contribution towards the replacement of the two existing tennis courts, which was made in 2021.

The ACT Government will retain responsibility for the green space adjacent to Canberra Technology Park, which comprises approximately 22,152 square metres of land at the site's north-eastern side, bounded by Windeyer Street, Burton Street and A'Beckett Street. This green space will be used for the Inner North Play Space.

An upgrade of the green space is proposed to provide modern outdoor recreation opportunities and deliver on the 2020 election commitment to deliver a destination style play space in the inner north.

More information about the site selection for the inner north play space is available here.

In late 2021 initial engagement on the proposed play space was carried out. We received 570 pieces of feedback in total via the online survey, kids’ corner, email and social media. We heard there was strong support for an inclusive play space that caters to all ages and abilities and is well connected to and integrated with surrounding facilities and services. Feedback received from the community during the first stage of engagement identified key priorities for the inner north play space and established the design framework for the next phase of the project.

The next phase involved bringing together a diverse group of representative stakeholders in a workshop to test and refine design concepts arising from the community engagement. These community representatives worked with the design team to ensure the design direction met a wide range of needs, while remaining true to the priorities identified by the community during the 2021 engagement.

During September to October 2023, Canberrans were invited to provide feedback on the preliminary design for the inner north play space to inform the final design ahead of construction. We received 146 items of feedback in total via an online survey, email submissions and social media. As a result of this feedback, the final design was updated to include:

• 108 new tree plantings to provide additional shade over paths and play spaces
  
• 32 bike parking spaces spread across four locations to enable visitors to park close to the facilities they’re visiting
• a bike repair station equipped with an air pump and tools to support active travel to the park
• an accessible play route to enable visitors with mobility needs to easily access the network of accessible play equipment
• additional signage to help visitors locate and safely access key facilities
• more basketball hoops to allow more people to use the multipurpose courts at any given time.

Feedback from the community and stakeholders during the three stages of engagement was used inform and finalise the design ahead of construction in 2024.

We’re excited to release the final design for the new inner north playground prior to construction commencing in 2024.

Click here to view the final design indicative design.

The final design was shaped by extensive feedback from the community and key stakeholders to ensure the new playground meets a wide variety of needs.

The new inner north playground will include:

• a wide variety of play equipment for all ages and abilities
• an accessible play route linking the network of accessible play equipment
• two multi-use courts to support a range of activities such as tennis, basketball and handball
• an open grassed area and amphitheatre for informal kickabout and gatherings
• 108 new tree plantings for more shade
• outdoor fitness equipment, a skating element and accessible path network
• 32 bike parking spaces and a bike repair station
• 18 car parking spaces including two accessible parking spaces
• an accessible toilet and changeroom with baby change facilities
• picnic shelters, barbecues, seating, drinking fountains, signage and bins.

The new inner north playground is part of our biggest ever program to improve suburban infrastructure across our city, with upgrades to local shops and group centres, playgrounds, dog parks and other community facilities underway.

To stay up-to-date on other projects being delivered across Canberra, visit www.cityservices.act.gov.au/bettersuburbs