More than a decade after its completion, the Bonython Park Playspace continues demonstrating how thoughtfully designed public infrastructure can create long-term social, environmental and community value.

Located within Tulya Wodli (Park 27) along the banks of Karrawirra Parri (River Torrens) in Adelaide, the Bonython Park Playspace was developed as part of the broader Adelaide Park Lands Master Plan and “Activity Hub” strategy.

Originally completed in 2010, the project remains a strong example of:
• inclusive community infrastructure
• landscape-led urban design
• stakeholder engagement
• accessibility-focused planning
• environmental integration
• public space activation
• long-term community value creation

This article revisits and expands an earlier university-era project management report originally written in 2013, reframing the project within a broader 2026 perspective focused on:
• inclusive public infrastructure
• community-centred urban planning
• stakeholder collaboration
• environmental sustainability
• accessibility and social inclusion
• governance and project delivery
• long-term activation of public spaces

Project Overview

Bonython Park forms part of the Adelaide Park Lands system, adjacent to Port Road and the River Torrens.

The project scope focused on delivering:
• an interactive playspace for children of all ages and abilities
• upgraded landscaping and public amenity
• accessible recreational infrastructure
• environmental and heritage integration
• activation of the surrounding precinct and kiosk facilities
• enhanced long-term community use of the parklands

The playspace formed part of Adelaide City Council’s broader “Activity Hub” concept, which aimed to strengthen activation and usability across sections of the Adelaide Park Lands system.

The completed project included:
• wheelchair-accessible play elements
• water and sand play zones
• basket swings and hammocks
• accessible roundabouts
• communication “chat boards” for non-verbal children
• landscaped gathering spaces
• picnic and BBQ facilities
• shaded recreational areas
• environmental and heritage interpretation features

Community Engagement & Participatory Planning

One of the strongest aspects of the project was its emphasis on community consultation and participatory engagement.

Adelaide City Council engaged the public through “Bang the Table” (now Granicus), inviting community input and ideas regarding the future playspace design.

An ideas competition generated more than 150 community submissions, allowing residents and families to contribute directly to the project vision.

This approach reflected an early example of:
• participatory planning
• community-centred design
• stakeholder-informed infrastructure delivery

The engagement process recognised that successful public spaces are not simply designed for communities — they are designed with communities.

The project also demonstrated growing awareness around:
• accessibility
• social inclusion
• universal design principles
• intergenerational community use

In 2026, these principles have become increasingly central to modern public infrastructure planning and placemaking strategies.

Accessibility & Inclusive Design

A defining feature of the Bonython Park Playspace was its commitment to accessibility and inclusive community participation.

The playspace was specifically designed to:
• support children of varying ages and abilities
• encourage imaginative and explorative play
• integrate physical and sensory accessibility
• create opportunities for social interaction and inclusion
• promote risk-benefit play principles within safe environments

Importantly, accessibility was not treated as an afterthought or isolated feature.

Instead, inclusion was integrated throughout the overall landscape and playspace experience.

Features such as:
• wheelchair-accessible equipment
• sensory play elements
• communication boards
• accessible pathways
• inclusive seating and gathering spaces

helped create a more equitable public environment for children, carers and families.

The project also included a pre-opening “test drive” involving more than 40 children with special needs and their carers from local organisations. Feedback from participants was overwhelmingly positive, reinforcing the importance of inclusive community infrastructure.

Environmental & Cultural Integration

The project demonstrated strong integration between landscape architecture, environmental management and cultural interpretation.

Environmental objectives included:
• protecting and enhancing local flora and fauna
• preserving existing vegetation where possible
• integrating native landscaping
• supporting biodiversity outcomes
• reducing landfill requirements through on-site soil retention strategies

The site also incorporated references to:
• Kaurna cultural heritage
• Karrawirra Parri (River Torrens)
• early historical settlement narratives
• local ecological systems and wildlife habitats

Importantly, Aboriginal spotters were engaged during excavation works to support cultural heritage preservation throughout construction activities.

In 2026, this type of environmental and cultural integration is increasingly recognised as critical within:
• urban regeneration projects
• community infrastructure planning
• placemaking strategies
• ESG and sustainability frameworks

Governance, Collaboration & Project Delivery

The project involved a broad network of stakeholders, including:
• Adelaide City Council
• Adelaide Park Lands Association
• State and Federal Government representatives
• WAX Design
• Dash Architects
• Ric McConaghy Playspaces
• FMG Engineering
• LCS Landscapes
• independent certifiers
• community groups and stakeholders

Governance responsibilities were aligned with:
• Adelaide Park Lands Management Strategy
• Adelaide Park Lands Act 2005
• public open space and environmental management objectives

The project highlighted the importance of:
• collaborative delivery environments
• stakeholder coordination
• transparent communication
• governance frameworks
• specialist technical input
• continuous adaptation during delivery

WAX Design worked closely with playspace certifiers and engineering specialists throughout both design and construction phases to ensure compliance with Australian Standards and accessibility requirements.

Managing Risk & Technical Challenges

Like many infrastructure and public realm projects, the Bonython Park Playspace encountered several delivery and environmental challenges.

These included:
• contaminated soils
• up to eight metres of fill beneath sections of the site
• modified engineering and footing requirements
• operational disruptions to surrounding park access and pathways
• balancing environmental, accessibility and operational requirements simultaneously

Rather than removing contaminated soil offsite, the project team collaborated to develop capped landscaped turf mounds that retained and safely integrated the material within the final landscape design.

The project also required collaboration with local and European engineers to modify footing designs for large-scale play equipment installed on filled ground conditions.

These challenges demonstrated:
• adaptive project delivery
• collaborative problem-solving
• integrated risk management
• environmental responsiveness

The playspace itself was intentionally designed around “risk-benefit” play principles — encouraging exploration and challenge while maintaining appropriate safety standards and certification processes.

Public Space Activation & Long-Term Community Value

One of the most important measures of successful community infrastructure is long-term public use and community attachment.

More than 13 years after completion, Bonython Park continues functioning as:
• a valued community destination
• an inclusive recreational environment
• a family gathering place
• an activated public space within the Adelaide Park Lands system

The project also contributed toward:
• strengthening the surrounding kiosk activation and viability
• increasing broader community use of the parklands
• enhancing public awareness around inclusive design and play value
• reinforcing the role of landscape architecture within community infrastructure delivery

This longevity demonstrates the importance of designing public infrastructure not only for immediate delivery outcomes, but for sustained long-term community relevance.

Lessons for Modern Infrastructure & Community Projects

Revisiting this project in 2026 highlights several themes that remain highly relevant across modern public infrastructure and placemaking projects.

These include:
• the value of early stakeholder engagement
• inclusive and universal design principles
• integrating accessibility from project inception
• balancing environmental and operational objectives
• collaborative governance and specialist coordination
• designing infrastructure around long-term social outcomes
• activating public spaces through community-centred planning

Increasingly, governments and delivery organisations are recognising that successful infrastructure is not only about physical assets.

It is also about:
• social value
• community wellbeing
• accessibility
• cultural recognition
• environmental sustainability
• long-term place activation

Final Reflection

The Bonython Park Playspace remains a strong example of how inclusive, community-focused infrastructure can continue generating long-term public value well beyond project completion.

More than a playground, the project demonstrates how thoughtful collaboration between government, designers, engineers, community stakeholders and environmental specialists can create public spaces that remain socially, culturally and operationally relevant for years to come.

In many ways, the project foreshadowed many of the themes now central to modern infrastructure and placemaking conversations in 2026:
• accessibility and universal design
• ESG and sustainability
• stakeholder engagement
• social infrastructure
• public space activation
• community wellbeing
• integrated project delivery

The continued popularity of the playspace highlights an important reminder for all community infrastructure projects:

Long-term success is often measured not only by delivery outcomes but also by how people continue to use, value, and connect with the space over time.

-Industry commentary and insights written by Tarnia Riggs.

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