Jeavons recently completed two playgrounds in Karratha, Western Australia. 
 
The first project, Bulgarra Public Open Space, was part of a Masterplan to improve the play facilities in the reserve. The playground added value to the existing sporting fields, tennis and netball courts. Custom designed play structures and cubbies were constructed by Earthcare, Living Iron and Forpark.
 
The second project is located in a new sub division and is tagged as the new outdoor space for locals. Baynton West Adventure Playground is located adjacent to a park with a running track, exercise equipment and ball courts. The accessible play space caters for all
ages and boasts a custom designed (near full sized) dump truck, artwork, sand  play areas, net structure, multi-directional swing and a 30m long double flying  fox. Planting will add character and shade to the play space over time, whilst  shade and communal areas are plentiful. The playground was officially opened by Regional Development and Lands Minister Brendon Grylls on October 7 2012. The playground has been officially called Mara Guthurra Adventure Playground. 

Jeavons designed and documented both play space designs and was well supported by Emerge &
Associates during the construction period  on the Baynton West Project.

This newly opened precinct called Growing Wild invites young children, their families and carers into Melbourne Zoo to literally enter the world of the animals - to eyeball meerkats and giant tortoises, climb and explore, dig in sand, look for worms and beetles and play ‘lookout’ like the meerkats on guard. They can try on a tortoise shell for size, watch ants, and scratch around on a brush turkey mound. Children and quokkas can explore the living tunnels together and in the discovery centre building, keepers can set up animal encounters with a variety of creatures that live on or
in the ground.

Jeavons Landscape Architects lead a team of consultants including Architects ClarkeHopkinsClarke and interpretive designers Arterial.

The team collaborated closely with Zoo staff for over three years to create this immersive landscape aimed to connect children to the natural world- a long term goal for Melbourne Zoo, as one of the world’s leading conservation
agencies.

The project opened on 21 September 2012 and is a complex, accessible and inclusive play space designed so that children of all abilities can experience the animals, sand and nature alongside their friends and siblings.

You can read more about it on the Melbourne Zoo’s website.

Mary was pleased to be invited by Dr Julie Rudner to speak with students of La Trobe University’s, Community Planning and Development Program in Bendigo. 

This program looks at towns and rural areas in terms of their social, economic and physical environments, with the aim of improving them as places to live. Julie particularly advocates for children’s rights.

Check out her blog called “Let my kids do WHAT?!”