Thatcher Reserve is a steeply sloping pocket of Council managed park land located in Vermont in Melbourne’s eastern suburbs.
Key to the overall design was the resolution of the levels transition as the park site is located on a steeply sloping embankment. The park is set within a beautiful stand of existing trees and the works were contained to ensure the character of the park setting is maintained and preserved.
This was achieved by splitting the park into two terraces connected via a scrambling climbing wall and slide. The lower terrace area caters for more active, older user groups and features new climbing and rope equipment. The upper level providing for younger kids and provides a number of DDA accessible play. The swings have been oriented to take in the tree lined long views down the valley.
The design features a mix of new play pieces to cater for a range of age groups including a new climbing embankment, hill slide, rope and climbing equipment. The design caters for all levels of accessibility and features a number of inclusive and sensory play elements accessed at the upper terrace level. New picnic and seating amenities along with a perimeter of mudstone terracing provides for casual seating for supervising parents with young toddlers. New garden beds wrap around the play spaces with native ground covers and grasses.
Our team were engaged by Council to undertake the schematic design and subsequent documentation for tender and construction.
The reserve was delivered on budget and opened by Whitehorse Council in 2022.
