City Park Play Space

Where Curiosity Comes to Play

The City Park Play Space is a cherished and iconic part of Launceston, holding special memories for many. We recognise its significance to both the local and wider community, which is why we’re investing in its future, to ensure it continues to inspire new memories for generations to come.

We are delivering an upgraded City Park Play Space that aims to repurpose, reimagine and rejuvenate the existing play space.

The City Park Play Space has been designed with local families in mind, it will suit children from toddlers to 10-year-olds. It will provide space for older kids to be adventurous, and areas where younger children can safely explore, learn, and build confidence through play.

This new playground continues a long tradition of community-supported spaces where Launceston families can connect, play, and grow together.

Want to learn more about the project?

  • View the concept design below or download the City Park Play Space concept design PDF.
  • Visit the Past Engagement tab to see how community input has helped shape the design.
  • Browse our FAQs for answers to common questions.
  • Curious about the past? Explore the history of the play space and former zoo.
  • Click the + Follow button at the top of the page to receive updates as the project progresses.

Check out the play space concept design.

Click on the double arrows to expand the concept design. Click on the red circles to view the play components.

City Park Playspace Base Map

Please note that concept design elements may be subject to change.

The play space takes inspiration from Hutch the train and the endemic animals that live/lived in Lutruwita/Tasmania.

Bespoke play spaces offer places for people to gather, for community to connect and for children to explore play through imagination.

This inclusive play space will offer much for the future generations. Open ended and imaginative play provide opportunities for children to form long lasting memories. Given the central location of City Park Play Space, we have designed a playground that is unique and specific to place, aiming to create a destination that children, families, school groups and carers can visit regularly and find new ways to play and engage.

A number of play principles are embedded into the design including the following:

  1. Open ended play - Children learn from one another and the environment within they live. By offering opportunities for open ended play (rather than prescribed play) the play space becomes a place of imagination, curiosity and exploration. Play items such as the train offer many ways to be played with, instead of calling a slide a slide, children can make up their own games and utilise the play space in a different way with each visit.
  2. A diversity of age offerings - The play space is aimed at children from toddler to age 10. The nest offers opportunities for larger children to play on the top platform and younger children lower down, learning from one another and encouraging children of varying ages to interact safely with one another.
  3. Movement - Through including play elements such as swings, climbing items and objects to balance upon, children will develop a perception of awareness of their body in space, helping with gross motor skill development and learning to trust their bodies.
  4. Tactility - Several different textures and patterns have been developed within the play space, primary colours have been purposefully replaced for lighter tones so that touch and engagement through texture are equal in experience to colour/visual. This also ensures aid in self-regulation and a reduction of overwhelm when it comes to hypersensitive and increased sensory experiences.
  5. Inclusion - Children are the most engaged when they are problem solving or working out how to reach a solution together. The Train and its adjacent sand play offer an experience where children can interact with one another through windows and openings offer a platform for multiple play opportunities in groups or for parallel play.

SBLA Studio Design Statement

How we got here

Past Engagement

How we engaged

The engagement for the City Park Playground upgrade was extensive and multi-phased, spanning from August 2022 to early 2024. It included broad community surveys, targeted school engagement, and onsite pop-ups. See tiles below for more information.

  • Tomorrow Together Campaign

    Initial engagement began in 2022 through the Tomorrow Together campaign, where 395 people shared what they love about City Park.

  • Feedback from schools

    During Science Week 2023, we spoke with over 600 primary school children to find out what they would like to see in the City Park play space.

  • Recreation and Open Space Strategy

    Over 600 community members shared their thoughts during the 2023/2024 Recreation and Open Space Strategy, with 40 giving specific feedback on what encourages them to use the City Park Play Space.

  • Engaged in the Parks!

    We held pop-ups at the City Park and Punchbowl Reserve in 2024 to engage further with community and stakeholders to understand what they would like to keep, remove or include within the play spaces.

What we heard...

  • Community feedback has been vital in shaping the concept design. Feedback highlighted what matters most to families and children. Key feedback included:

    • Accessible and inclusive play for children
    • Keeping the much-loved play theme and features, including the train, swings, slides and shaded areas
    • More equipment such as swings, slides, monkey bars, climbing structures and natural play elements
    • Improved toilet facilities
    • Additional seating and tables for families and carers to enjoy the space.

FAQs

City Park Play Space History

A Playground with a Proud History

City Park has been a place for play and community for many years.

The idea for a playground was first suggested in 1937, using funds from the John Hart bequest. By 1947, swings and other equipment were planned for the western end of the park.

In 1959-60, the playground was redeveloped, and a real A4 train engine was installed. The Railways and Rotary Club helped cover the cost.

In the 1990s, the A4 train was removed and replaced with a 1951 U3 locomotive named “HUTCH”, after the late Dr David Hutchinson, which was donated by the Don River Railway.

In 1990, a BBQ shelter was built nearby, designed by Peter Pennick and donated by the Windmill Hill Lions Club.

City Park Zoo History

Did you know City Park once had a zoo?

City Park was once home to a zoo that housed Tasmanian Emus, along with eagles, hens, deer, dingoes, kangaroos, and wallabies.

In 1979, as part of a cultural exchange with Launceston’s sister city, Ikeda in Japan, ten wallabies were sent to Ikeda in exchange for ten macaques. The macaques remain a popular feature in City Park today.

The upgraded play space will include animal-themed elements that celebrate and reflect this rich history.

Image: City Park showing zoo cages in the background. Collection: QVMAG