Burrumarra Avenue play space

Project status: Closed

Project overview

The community were invited to provide feedback in March 2022 on the location for a significant upgrade and what play elements, equipment and amenities they would like to see included. Following this, feedback was analysed and preliminary sketch plans were developed for further community feedback in November 2022.

Burramurra Avenue playground is being upgraded with key features including:

  • new shade sail with cultural artwork on the posts over an all-ages accessible play area
  • shelter and picnic table
  • fencing, gates and a concrete path
  • seating
  • slides and climbing structures with Ngunnawal cultural play elements.

We looked at

The ACT Government is committed to delivering better play spaces across Canberra and providing people of different ages and abilities with fun, creative and engaging play experiences.

The community were invited to provide feedback on a significant upgrade to the Burramurra Avenue playground including play elements, equipment and amenities as well as safety and accessibility.

During the first round of feedback the community said they wanted more climbing structures, slides and forts, with nature play also rating as a much wanted feature. We used this feedback to create preliminary designs for broader community engagement.

We used your views to

Feedback received during engagement on this project assisted in developing and then finalising designs ahead of construction procurement for the significant upgrade to the Burramurra Avenue playground.

If you have any questions about this project or would like to be kept updated on its progress, please email communityengagement@act.gov.au.

Design

What you told us you’d like to see

  • Amenities: furniture for sitting, eating or studying; more shade or covered areas; increased accessibility and usability and safety improvements such as fences, gates and paths.
  • Play equipment/elements: nature play; slides, forts and climbing structures; more diverse or multi-use play elements.

How we have used your feedback

  • New shade sail with cultural artwork on the posts over an all-ages accessible play area.
  • Shelter and picnic table.
  • Fencing, gates, and a concrete path.
  • Seating.
  • Slides and climbing structures with Ngunnawal cultural play elements.

Final indicative design

Click here to see a full-screen version of the final indicative design.

Map displaying improvements at the Burrumarra Avenue play space in Ngunnawal.

Map displaying improvements at the Burrumarra Avenue play space in Ngunnawal.

Cultural design elements

The region where the Ngunnawal play space upgrade is located holds an ancient cultural and spiritual connection to the Ngunnawal people and has for thousands of years. This region is traditionally known to the Ngunnawal people as Ginninderra meaning ‘Sparkling ray of Light’ and is rich in cultural resources such as the Ginninderra Creek. The region also holds many significant sacred sites and locations such as the Grinding Grooves at Percival Hill and the Stone Quarry at Mulligans Flat. The Ginninderra region is rich in native woodlands such as the Yellow Blakely Red Gum which the Ngunnawal people continue to use to create many native tools such as the Coolamons which were used to collect water and carry small children.

The artwork for Ngunnawal, by artist and cultural consultant Bradley Mapiva Brown, reflects these connections to Ginninderra (Sparking ray of light), Ginninderra Creek, native woodlands and the gatherings and ceremony which took place across this region by the Ngunnawal people. Bagariin Ngunnawal Cultural Consulting provided several recommendations to showcase the play space theme. Recommendations included in the final indicative design are:

  • artwork wrapped on posts and equipment,
  • blue slides symbolising Ginninderra Creek and Falls,
  • nature play elements and colours of blues and purples.
Ngunnawal cultural elements included in the indicative final design for Burrumarra Avenue play space improvements.

Ngunnawal cultural elements included in the final indicative design for Burrumarra Avenue play space improvements.