Consultancy Services Playground Recreation Asset Strategy

City of Darwin is progressively implementing a suite of strategic planning documents to guide future management, provision and development of sport, recreation, leisure and community assets. Building on the foundation established by the Sports Field Plan 2016-2026, which provided a framework, hierarchy and principles for management of the City's sports fields, this project will provide a similar approach to the City's public play spaces and selected recreation assets.

Well planned play and active recreation spaces contribute to the liveability of the municipality and provide opportunities for learning and development, physical and mental health, social skills, and cognitive ability. Whilst providing great spaces for residents (of all ages) is the main objective, a flow-on effect of providing quality spaces is attracting parents, siblings, grandparents and carers into the space so they too reap the health benefits associated with open space activity.

The Playground and Recreation Asset Strategy will provide a framework and principles for the effective provision and management of a diverse range of active play opportunities across the municipality. The strategy will have a strong focus on the benefits of accessible play spaces and enhancing public parks to attract and retain a wide cross-section of the community. It is recognised that play equipment is one component of the overall play experience and appeal of public settings; therefore, this project is required to adopt a 'whole park' approach to evaluating the appeal, amenity and play space opportunities to encourage physical activity, social interaction and community use of the City's parks and reserves.

The project scope requires a formal comprehensive Playground Audit as per AS 4685.0:2017 to be undertaken by a qualified Level 1 Playground inspector to identify compliance and condition ratings for all play equipment.
The strategy should consider Council's free-to-access outdoor playgrounds and recreation assets, including:
· Playgrounds (including 'youth spaces'), currently 124 locations
· Basketball Courts, currently five locations
· Exercise Stations, currently eight locations
· Tennis Courts, currently eight courts across three locations and
· Skate Parks, currently one location.