Paperbark Playspace wins the NSW Award of Excellence - Play Spaces

At the 2020 AILA NSW Landscape Architecture Awards, Paperbark Playspace at Parramatta Park won the NSW Award of Excellence - Play Spaces. The playspace was led by the team at Phillips Marler as Landscape Architects and Head Consultants, with Daracon Group completing the Landscape Construction.

Paperbark Playspace in the historic Gardens Precinct of Parramatta Park is a new all-inclusive playspace designed for the Western Sydney Parklands and Parramatta Park Trust and was funded by the NSW Governments 'Everyone Can Play' Program.

The award winning design has breathed life into the 30+ year old playground. It combines play with cultural interpretation of the former convict site, using play and shade structures, interactive artwork and historic images and text. The playspace provides a wide variety of play experiences which are accessible to young children of varying abilities, including wheelchair users within a reflective setting which responds to the cultural significance of its location.

During the demolition and excavation there was a ‘No Dig Policy’ due the heritage sensitivity of the site. The whole play space is built on a layer of no fines concrete to ensure the heritage listed tree growing in the middle of the site would not be disturbed. 

The playspace was constructed over 6 months with Paperbark Playspace officially opened on 25^th July by the Minister for Planning & Public Spaces, Rob Stokes.

Photos courtesy of Simon Wood Photography.