Forest Lake, Hamilton
Hamilton City Council
2015

Lake Rotokaeo Playspace
The redevelopment of the Lake Rotokaeo playspace was initiated by Hamilton City Council to transform the existing small playground into a new destination playspace for Hamilton City.  The site sits on the dramatic water’s edge of Lake Rotokaeo, within the wider context of Minogue Park and with a backdrop of mature native vegetation.  A key objective of the design was to create a highly integrated series of forms that tie in naturally with the surrounding landscape and flow down the gentle slope towards the lake edge.  The use of curving forms, banks, berms and the connectivity of play equipment help to reinforce this.  A wide range of play value is offered throughout the playspace with the use of a mix of traditional play equipment, more natural and un-programmed features and custom designed play elements.  This includes flying foxes, slides, water and sand play, swings, tunnels, stepping logs, stilts, spinners, climbing features, trampolines and springers.  Encircling the playspace, and forming the edge treatment in many places, is a bike and scooter skills track that provides the opportunity for kids to improve their abilities on a series of rollers, berms and curving path sections.  For this project Bespoke worked alongside Hamilton City Council and Park Central as key partners in the design process.