Mount Isa (OPEN)

Mount Isa's 1.5 hectare Family Fun Park featured the first of 16 all abilities playgrounds completed as part of the Queensland All Abilities Playground Project.

Park facts

Name: Mount Isa Family Fun Park

Size: 15,000m² (playground approximately 3000m²)

Officially opened: Friday 5 June 2009

Main play elements: Interactive water play area, sensory garden, pool-fenced junior play area (0-6 years), senior play area (6-15 years), Liberty Swing, double flying fox, bicycle course and open play areas.

Facilities: Outdoor showers, drinking fountains, perimeter fencing, and accessible car parking, picnic shelters and barbecue facilities, plus a gazebo, and an open-air stage and amphitheatre.

Toilet facilities: Accessible toilets, including fold-down toddler change facility.

Address: Corner Church and Isa Streets, Mount Isa. View on Google map.

Major funding partners:

• Queensland Government ($1.75 million), including Q150 Funding Assistance ($1.5 million), Queensland All Abilities Playground Project funding ($150,000) and Security Improvement Program funding ($100,000)
• Mount Isa City Council ($1.5 million)
• Xstrata Mount Isa Mines ($1 million).

Contact: Mount Isa City Council on (07) 4747 3200.

Project summary

The $4.25 million Family Fun Park development formed part of a Mount Isa City Council strategy to renew the city's sport and recreational facilities.

More than 500 local residents, including 86 school students, participated in the planning and design of the Family Fun Park and its all abilities playground.

A range of activities were held to determine the community's hopes and aspirations for the project, including:

• a public survey
• targeted surveys at local high schools, primary schools, kindergartens and day care centres
• letter drops
• a community forum
• Mount Isa Special School workshops and presentations
• consultation with emergency services personnel, representatives from Xstrata Mount Isa Mines and other stakeholders.

The entire fun park was purpose-designed with accessibility and inclusiveness in mind, enabling the all abilities concept to be integrated seamlessly into the broader development and existing park facilities.

More than 70 pieces of play equipment were selected for main playground area, which featured more than 3000sqm of rubberised softball surfacing and a variety of dedicated play areas, including water, junior, senior and open areas.

The park's accessible water play area included 35 water features – many interactive, such as touch-activated keyboards, water cannons and animal sound sprays – all tailored to meet the needs of children with varied levels of mobility and communication.