AN obstacle course, a spooky place, a spot for the mums and dads, swings and slippery dips are part of the wish list of Orange children for an adventure playground.
The 1000 sq metre playground, which is to be paid for and built by the community, took a major step forward yesterday with a design day involving Orange primary school students.
Leathers Associates’ designer Dennis Wille was in Orange talking to students about what they think are the important elements of a good playground.
Yesterday while visiting Orange East Public Mr Wille heard that the playground should include a spooky place or haunted house, a mirror maze, a pool a bike track and a tyre swing.
Mr Wille, from New York State, said the design stage was significant because it was incredibly important to give the children what they wanted.
“We’ve been given a lot of things.
“Obstacle course elements, an alligator you climb through, castles, tree houses, cubby houses, bubblers, shade, slides, a restaurant and a toilet block because the kids know they can stay longer if there is a toilet.
“They also wanted a place for the adults so the kids get to stay longer and access for people in wheelchairs because some of the kids had friends in chairs,” he said.
Mr Wille has now designed more than 400 playgrounds for Leathers.
He said the end result would be a great playground but that was not the limit of the project. “Through the process you build community.
“As the children see this process unfold they see people co-operating and they develop a belief system that realises you can change the environment, you can change the world,” he said.
Preliminary drawings were expected to be completed last night.
Council has donated land near the Botanic Gardens for the playground.