For decades, playgrounds looked much the same. A swing, a slide, a seesaw – replicated across neighbourhoods and schools. Wherever you went, you were playing on variations of the same equipment.
Today, playspaces can and should be different. They can be defining features of communities: distinctive places of identity, belonging, and pride. Made possible by placemaking and co-design approaches that focus on creating play experiences that don’t just entertain. They tell stories. They connect us. They reflect who we are.
The value of placemaking in playground design
Placemaking is about creating spaces that feel meaningful and memorable. Applied to playspaces, this means designing play and recreation environments that are inspired by people and place – celebrating local identity, honouring heritage, and championing a shared, future vision.
Research and practice consistently demonstrate that when communities feel represented in their spaces, they use them more, stay longer, and feel stronger connections with others. Warren and Mahoney’s recent paper Unlocking Value: Maximising value and impact in the delivery of community infrastructure reinforces this. They reflect on the importance of embedding cultural values and Indigenous knowledge through consultation and co-design to create public spaces that deliver long-term social value.
International design thinking echoes this. Distinctive, locally grounded play environments are linked to higher rates of physical activity, greater intergenerational use, and stronger community engagement. In other words, placemaking makes play even more powerful.
Co-design: the pathway to placemaking
Placemaking thrives on co-design: an inclusive approach that actively involves all stakeholders – especially community members, children, families, mana whenua / First Nations representatives – in the design process.
The result is not just a playground, but a shared vision made tangible. Co-design ensures the design aligns with local culture, aspirations, and practical needs, while building collective ownership. That ownership matters: when communities see themselves in the design, they care for and cherish it.
The role of customised play equipment
While architecture frames the space, playground equipment often becomes the anchor point of the experience. And here lies the challenge: standard, “off-the-shelf” equipment rarely tells a story.
By choosing playground equipment that can be customised or creating bespoke playground equipment, you can bring placemaking principles to life. Timber towers can become sculptural trees. Nets can echo weaving traditions. Colours and finishes can reflect local materials and landscapes. Even subtle details – poles that support swings shaped like local flora, or rockers that mirror native fauna – make equipment feel of the place.
For landscape architects, this is where collaboration with playground equipment manufacturers adds real value: translating cultural narratives and community aspirations into equipment that is both imaginative and practical, playful and enduring.
Case study: Kāwaroa Park, New Zealand
A spectacular destination playground making waves
Set on the dramatic Ngāmotu / New Plymouth coastline, the Kāwaroa Destination Playground (Stage One) captivates families with its unique mix of culture, creativity, and coastal storytelling.
Here, bespoke equipment was key to placemaking:
- Custom pōhutukawa features – bespoke stepping poles, carved climbing/seating logs, and a striking custom steel rope net climber capture the character of New Plymouth’s much-loved pōhutukawa trees.
- Seaside-inspired play – log and net climbing stacks, scramble nets, tunnels, and slides reflect the rocks, seaweed, and marine life of the nearby foreshore.
- Hidden sculptural details — pāua, kina, and crabs tucked into the play journey create moments of discovery and delight.
This co-designed space, developed in partnership with Ngāti Te Whiti, council, and local stakeholders, is a proud reflection of place – a playground that honours its natural landscape and cultural heritage while delivering inclusive, multi-generational fun.
Case study: Katalia Estate, Australia
Parks and playspaces that grow with the community
At Katalia Estate in one of Melbourne’s newest suburbs, a placemaking approach has resulted in a network of playspaces tailor-made to reflect the active, healthy lifestyle the new community’s residents are seeking.
- Alloca Park introduced a dynamic playground for older children, featuring a custom-made Wobbly Wood Tower and Rope Course with over a dozen activities offering adventurous play.
- River Red Gum Park followed. Designed for younger children with equipment from the Playground Centre range cleverly modified and customised to tie the playspaces together, with site-specific finishes and colours.
Together, these bespoke and adapted pieces create play environments that are both developmentally appropriate and uniquely of the place, strengthening Katalia’s identity as a family-friendly community.
Dare to dream, dare to standout
The shift from uniform playgrounds to distinctive play destinations is not a passing trend. It represents a fundamental evolution in how we think about play and community.
Placemaking through co-design – and the custom playground equipment that makes it possible – ensures that playspaces are not only valued for their fun but also their cultural, social, and economic impact. They capture history, reflect identity, and provide the platform for a positive, shared future.
As communities in New Zealand, Australia, and beyond continue to demand distinctive, meaningful spaces, the role of placemaking and co-design expertise and custom playground equipment will only grow.
To learn more about Playground Centre’s award-winning placemaking approach to playspace design, download our People-Powered Playspaces brochure and visit the Dare to Dream to explore our latest playground equipment and find out more about our custom manufacturing capabilities.
Get in touch today to talk to one of our experienced play consultants and partner with Playground Centre to design and build your community’s dream playspace.