The Little Roo’s Playground builds on a short story created by the Whitfield State School teachers to assist children transition from preschool into prep. The narrative is brought to life with the creation of a series of play experiences featuring little Roo’s new friends, each character based on animals found in North Queensland. The outcome functions beyond the basic purpose of a playground, providing prompts for lessons on the natural environment, relationships, resilience and fostering environmental stewardship in later life.

The space itself is a beautifully crafted set of natural play structures which incorporate sensory and tactile experiences. Connected through the storytelling, independent play assists the process of education through the child’s experience and imagination. This project provides inspiration for others to consider celebrating their own stories and values through the development of bespoke play space.

Landplan won the 2021 AILA Landscape Architecture Award - Play Spaces