Fitzroy Community Harmony Play Garden

The design creates an enriched, multi-sensory natural playspace. Based on Simon Nicholson’s Theory of Loose Parts, this space aims to foster the children’s imagination and creativity. Features include a rain-garden, cubbyhouses, circle-space, hill, water pump, a chain of wet sand ponds, a dry sandbox, a community gathering area with new pergola, and a new awning and deck adjacent to the proposed indoor community room. The outdoor space is currently weed-ridden and underutilised. The existing sandbox is sufficient but can be greatly enhanced by developing the surroundings to add to the variety and depth of the play possible in the space.

The Harmony Play Garden will support multiple areas of learning, social development and enable deeper connections to the local and broader community. For families and children in a highly urban area, the Harmony Play Garden will provide an engaging natural environment. In addition to the use at school, the play space provides an opportunity for playgroup families with young children 0-6 who will also be meeting and using the space, as well as local residents and families who will be welcome to enjoy the space outside of school hours.