Victoria Park, Reading Borough Council

This site already had a small play area tucked into the corner of the field and it was beginning to have its equipment condemned. Reading Borough Council put out this huge project to tender. After meeting with the client we were clearly able to understand the needs of the council and local community, including two nearby schools. Our proposal went through public consultation and received fantastic feedback due to the chosen equipment and also the wonderful colourful nature themed design. Accessibility and inclusivity were paramount so we ensured to include items that can be accessed by many, with ground level elements, ramped units, challenging equipment, all with a linking path throughout. A disability awareness group was involved in the scoring and rated our design the highest.

This park was designed to become a destination park to cater for the local children as well as to draw famalies in from afar. The central Giant tower unit stands in at 8m high and really gives this park the WOW factor. It was designed by our KOMPAN Design Studio to be bespoke and there is no other tower like it in the world! The surrounding equipment compliments the site helping it to blend in with its surroundings. The splashes of colour pop and engage visitors. The park has also been rated by PiPA as being an inclusive playground. We were careful to ensure maintenance would not be an ongoing issue by future proofing the area, making it a play area easy to access and to look after. The feedback has been overwhelmingly positive from the many families and children that have used the play area since the opening.