A playground in Auckland, New Zealand, featuring the country’s tallest play tower, has received major design recognition at national architecture and landscape awards. The playground at Hayman Park in Manukau includes a 12.8-metre play tower and forms part of a wider redevelopment aimed at creating a destination play space for families in South Auckland.
The park upgrade cost about NZ$10.8 million and introduced a range of play features including climbing structures, rope bridges, slides and nature-based play elements designed to encourage active and inclusive play for children of different ages and abilities.
The project received the planning and urban design award at the New Zealand Institute of Architects awards and also won an excellence award in the play spaces category at the New Zealand Institute of Landscape Architects awards. The recognition highlights the role of well-designed public play spaces in supporting community recreation and creating attractive urban environments.
