The design philosophy for Haddington Way focussed on three core elements: Accessibility, Nurturing the Senses, and Dynamic Play. To achieve the ‘wow’ factor, we selected modern, innovative equipment and surfacing that reflects the site’s natural surroundings through a palette of natural colours, green wetpour surfacing, and grass matting. The standout feature is the Climbers’ Paradise, a large-scale structure designed for multiple children to navigate simultaneously, fostering social interaction and physical challenge.
Inclusivity was paramount throughout the design process. We curated a diverse list of equipment to ensure children with different abilities can play alongside their peers, including:
- Sensory and Communication Panels: Featuring Braille, Sign Language, and the Texture Turtle panel to engage tactile and educational senses.
- Dynamic Equipment: Such as the Net Seesaw, Nest Seat Swing, Namaka Pendulum Carousel, and Spinning Bowl.
- Accessible Rocking: Including the Little Beetle Spring Rocker equipped with specialised supports.
A significant challenge of the Haddington Way site was its tendency to hold water during wetter months. Our Design and Projects Teams addressed this by positioning play equipment on the driest parts of the site and installing a high-quality wetpour surface. This surfacing, which flows seamlessly from an increased-width path, ensures the area remains usable all year round and provides easy circulation for wheelchairs and pushchairs.
The play area is divided into targeted zones to ensure age-appropriate challenge. The Toddler Area features the Big View Tower Unit, providing younger children with opportunities for crawling, sliding, and climbing in a secure setting. For older children, the Junior Area offers more advanced physical activities like the Somersault Bars and the extensive Tulipa Mini Balancing Course. This excellence in design was validated by a RoSPA Play Value Assessment, which awarded the site “Excellent” scores of 24/29 for toddlers and 41/48 for juniors.
To guarantee longevity and durability, the equipment is predominantly constructed from stainless and hot-dip galvanised steel, which is inherently vandal-resistant. We also utilised High-Density Polyethylene (HDPE) and High-Pressure Laminate (HPL) panels, which are UV-stabilised, 100% recyclable, and resistant to rotting or splintering. With a modular design that allows for easy repairs and a 35-year guarantee on structural steel elements, Haddington Way will remain a cherished community asset for many years to come.
