Ropner Park, located in the west of Stockton, has been a proud centre of the community for many years, and has a long and rich heritage as the area’s only Victorian-era park. Its playground had long provided excitement for younger visitors – but years of heavy use meant it now required an extensive overhaul. We were excited to bring our experience, knowledge and ideas to this important challenge, in partnership with Stockton Council.
First of all, we undertook a thorough site survey, and studied the brief in order to finalise a design which brought the council’s vision to life. Many existing items would be removed, whilst others would remain, in order to retain the site’s existing nautical theme and colour palette. Our new equipment would therefore need to integrate seamlessly alongside these remaining items, and develop the marine aesthetic.
Planning for Play
In terms of play value, the new equipment would need to be robust enough to withstand sustained daily use, whilst offering engagement for both toddler and junior-aged users. Specifically, it had to provide risk and reward for more able young visitors, as well as guaranteeing inclusivity and accessibility for children with disabilities, whether in the form of a physical impairment, neurodivergent condition, or behavioural/emotional challenges. Meeting all of these requirements compelled us to design a play space with an array of physically challenging play experiences, as well as a range of tactile, sensory benefits across many textures, surfaces and colours.
We began by removing the redundant existing items, making way for an exciting selection of new equipment. The area’s spacious layout would allow users of all abilities (as well as wheelchairs and buggies) to traverse it unencumbered, and the circulation zones around each new unit would enable the free flow of people, and allow them to play without fear of congestion or collision.
During the installation, we provided regular updates to the users of Ropner Park in the form of a new progress page on our website, regularly updated and easily accessible from a QR code displayed at the site. This page offered us a welcome opportunity to explain the work we were doing, as we introduced a fantastic variety of dynamic new equipment.
Out of the Blue!
A striking infusion of safe, consistent play carpet surfacing was then installed, with its vivid blue colouring retaining the site’s existing nautical theming (and perfectly marrying with two new 3D wet pour shapes in the form of a shark and starfish). To complement this aesthetic, it was decided that many of the new items would be recoloured in striking red, cooling sky blue, or both, making the updated space impossible to ignore.
The imposing central tower boasts the biggest visual ‘WOW’ factor, as well as providing huge play value. With more than 18 physical, social, dynamic and imaginative play features, the 8m high tower can accommodate up to 38 users. It delivers accessible sensory features at ground level, including a ‘hut’, tracker panel, and an ‘owl talker’ to communicate across the unit.
Multiple challenging play points allow young adventurers to ascend its platforms, including a pole climb, vertical rung ascent, rope climb, inclusive scramble net, and an inclined hand over hand. Conversely, a set of slide bars offers an easy exit back to ground level, and an eye-catching 4m high stainless steel tube chute provides a more exhilarating descent. Resplendent in its striking red and blue recolouring, the tower now naturally dominates the space.
Play for All
It is surrounded by an extensive range of supporting equipment, including our Inclusive Group Seesaw, which is full of play value for up to six users. The seesaw enables dynamic rocking and balancing fun, and users can sit or stand on its large central platform. A unique, cutaway seat on one end also increases accessibility for children with limited physical mobility.
Elsewhere, engaging imaginative/role play opportunities are provided by one of our newest pieces, the Medical Activity Centre – the first to be installed in the country. Fixed around a central 1.30m post, the unit incorporates eight play panels related to health and medicine, with eleven play activity elements including a doctors’ surgery with a table, and an opticians’ panel with sight test charts.
As envisioned from the project’s inception, the new space features dedicated inclusive provision: our durable Inclusive Wheelchair Roundabout delivers a thrilling spinning sensation for all, with its in-ground design and non-slip features, able to accommodate a centrally positioned wheelchair. It also features two seats for parents, carers or friends, and a contrasting lime green colour edge acts as a visual indicator for partially sighted users.
Similarly, our Inclusive Dish Roundabout provides good body support for two users, including those with limited mobility, and enables them to enjoy a rocking and rotating motion; it is also set at an appropriate height for wheelchair side transfer. Finally, our multisensory Sound Flower offers audio and visual stimulation, with internal ball bearings creating a sound effect when the unit is spun, and the centre of the flower incorporating a black spiral on a white background for a high contrast, optical illusion.
Swinging into Action
Of course, no playground visit is complete without a spell on the swings, and Ropner Park is now packed with engaging options in this regard. Our three-bay Modular Swing includes two Flat Seats for older users, a comfortable, body-hugging Cradle Seat for younger users, and our bright, inclusive Duo Pod seat, with two seats on a fixed frame allowing a pair of users to face each other as they swing. An open ‘Turtle’ nest seat also enables three to four users of all abilities to enjoy a fulfilling, exhilarating social experience.
Elsewhere, our Sky Swing carousel features three single Pod Seats suspended from radial swing arms which rotate around a central pole, creating the perfect forum for airborne social interaction. Additionally, our Cobra Swing, with a chunky central rope seat, requires co-operation from up to six users to get moving, using balancing, swinging and rocking movements.
A fantastic selection of smaller, standalone items finish the new play area. Two dynamic spinners, in the form of our Hula Rotator and Curlicue, cater for children across the age range. The former, based around a suspended hoop, is useable by two children aged three to fourteen, and tests balance while spinning. The Curlicue, meanwhile, takes the form of a simple spiral, and can be used by one user aged five and upwards. Set at an angle, it utilises the user’s changing centre of gravity to propel them around.
Finally, two Springies further the nautical theme: our popular ‘Pablo the Penguin’ Springie Seesaw enables social play for users of all abilities, in the form of a friendly, colourful character, and its open access seats make it easier to mount. Likewise, our robust HPL ‘Wilbur Whale’ Springie displays another marine character with a tail, fin and cheeky grin, as well as foot and heel rails to guide the feet into the best position, and an open fronted design for easy access.
Exceeding Expectations
A representative from Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council said: ‘Working with Sutcliffe Play on this project delivered a fantastic new playground which the entire community now loves to visit. They were open and approachable, and worked effectively and collaboratively to get Ropner Park finished on time and to an excellent standard.’
Our work here has delivered a comprehensive, inclusive upgrade to this much-loved destination playground, with a particularly unique aesthetic which marks it out even amongst our other projects. We’re proud to have secured the future of this space for the generations to come, and added our own special chapter to the long and storied history of Ropner Park.