Students from Lincoln University’s School of Landscape Architecture were excited to show off the fruits of their labours at last week’s official opening of Ararira Springs Primary School’s new playground.
The project kicked off in 2018 when the school approached SoLA and asked if some of their students would be interested in coming up with design ideas for a play area.
They enthusiastically took on the task and once the designs were complete, students and staff voted on the best options. Then in Semester 1 of this year, the class of LASC 393 brought the concepts to life as part of their practicum work.
The opening included a presentation from SoLA students, Charlotte Calder and Nicole Tune, as they demonstrated all the features of the playground, which had been designed for small and big kids alike.
The project reflects aspects of the area, with tuna forms and locally felled trees. The playground equipment is painted in the official Ararira Springs Primary School colours, and has been made with mostly recycled materials.
The area will be open during weekends so that it can be enjoyed by the wider community.