Reading’s Rivermead Leisure Centre had recently enjoyed a complete rebuild, and it was decided that an exciting new play area alongside it would be the ideal accompaniment, creating an attractive destination play park for local families. Whilst the new leisure centre allowed visitors to enjoy the thrill of physical exercise, the new play space would not only offer children the same privilege, but its fun and stimulating play equipment would also exercise their imaginations.
We were delighted to collaborate with Pellikaan Construction Ltd on the project, demonstrating our versatility as a leading play designer and manufacturer able to work constructively with partners in the private sector, as well as our most frequent clients in local government. After conducting a thorough site survey and paying due attention to every element within the brief, we finalised a design which fulfilled every requirement.
Setting the Scene
The site’s surfacing needed to be solid, safe and consistent, so colourful flecked wetpour was utilised – an imaginative snaking waterway design not only paid homage to the nearby river but also physically led visitors through the play space, with tributaries leading off to various sections. This theme is complimented by fun, friendly character graphics which fulfil the aquatic aesthetic, including an array of colourful fish, and a 3D graphic of a frog even includes a metal tunnel for children to crawl through, bringing the creature to vivid life and setting the scene for lots of laughs.
But the most vital element of any play space is, of course, the equipment. Due to the expected heavy footfall, it was imperative that any units used should be sufficiently durable – we were confident that our robust range would be an excellent fit in this regard. Our design therefore boasts a huge array of our most long-lasting, exciting pieces, which offer huge inclusivity to children of all ability levels and disabilities, as well as dedicated areas targeted at differing age groups, with a toddler section and a dedicated junior section. In line with our philosophy of allowing disabled and non-disabled children to play side by side, however, we’re particularly proud that the inclusive equipment is incorporated across the space, rather than being confined to a single area.
Inclusion for All
Indeed, inclusion is at the very centre of this space not only figuratively but literally – our best-selling Inclusive Wheelchair Roundabout sits at its geographical heart, delivering huge fun with its open design able to accommodate a centrally positioned wheelchair, allowing children and carers to enjoy the spinning motion together. Nearby, an excellent variety of swing seats is included on our 2.4m-high extendable modular swing frames. The combination of seats includes two ergonomic bumper seats with rounded edges, two cradle seats which hold the child securely in place, our new plastic nest seat with an inclusive, open birds’ nest design for a communal experience, our specifically designed inclusive swing seat for children with increased accessibility requirements, and a tango seat, which allows two visitors of any age to swing face-to-face and enjoy social interaction.
Further inclusive elements include our colourful Pull Up multiplay unit, which can accommodate 10 users, and amongst its three challenging levels of access is an inclusive shallow drag ramp and transfer platform. The site also features our popular Four-Way Seesaw, inclusive of children of all abilities as well as parents/carers, with its generous handles offering a secure grip. Meanwhile, our Inclusive Helicopter Springie features an open front for easy accessibility, with a specially shaped large saddle seat and a high back rail for support. Finally, an array of inclusive multi-sensory play panels, including spider web and butterfly mazes, deliver colourful, social fun for all visitors, and a Communication Panel is specifically designed for children who may find difficulty in verbal communication, by displaying a huge grid of colourful symbols which correspond to the play environment and which can be pointed at to convey messages between children or to parents/carers, once again allowing children of all abilities to join the fun.
Something for Everyone
To produce a play park with true mass appeal, meanwhile, our design also included some of our most challenging equipment. Our Playzone Two Tower unit, located in the junior area, is our best-selling standard climbing frame unit, effectively offering two units in one. Spanning a wide age range from 4-10, its younger section comprises a ladder, slide and fireman’s pole, and a more challenging area for older ones features a pull-up ramp, vertical net and pole climb.
A series of robust, smaller standalone pieces further cements the site’s broad appeal: also located in the junior zone, our dynamic Wipe Out board is designed in a surfboard shape for children aged 8-15, testing balance and co-ordination. Nearby, a thrilling Hula rotator roundabout is based around a suspended hoop (with the user positioning themselves inside as with a normal hula hoop), and is suitable for use by children of most ages, either alone or with friends. In close proximity, our three-tiered ‘Wriggler’ balancing platform features a colourful HPL top surface displaying a friendly caterpillar, and its three platforms can be used for balancing fun or as informal seats – it’s also combined with a Stepping Pod for a further balancing element.
Meanwhile, over in the dedicated toddler area, our colourful Buggie Springie offers an exhilarating springing sensation to users aged 2 to 6, in the form of a bright, imaginative vehicle. Meanwhile, a Curlicue rotator appears as a simple spiral set at an angle, with the user’s changing centre of gravity propelling them around – and with a galvanised steel base, sealed bearing and powder coated steel spiral top making it particularly durable, it’s more than able to easily withstand the heavy usage it will receive.
Exceeding Expectations
Martin Wallace, Area Sales Manager for Sutcliffe Play, said:
‘We’re delighted to see the new playground at Rivermead Leisure Centre already making such a difference to the community, and very much look forward to more children enjoying the full range of fantastic new equipment we’ve introduced. Working with Pellikan Construction and Reading Borough Council was a pleasure, and we’re proud to have made a real difference to this popular destination site for the benefit of local families.’
This powerhouse play space has provided the perfect accompaniment to Rivermead Leisure Centre and revolutionised the area, delivering a site with mass appeal packed with inclusive, exciting equipment, and catering to children with many disabilities as well as a broad age range from toddlers to teens. We’re thrilled that our work here is guaranteed to provide a fantastic destination for all to enjoy well into the future.
