New Mapoon

Playground name: Mandingnou Apudthama Apang

Location: Between Bond and Langie Streets, New Mapoon

Size: TBC

Council: Northern Peninsula Area Regional Council

Contact: Council on (07) 4069 3121.

Site background

New Mapoon's community park project and its all abilities playground forms part of a wider strategy to enhance play opportunities for the region's children and their families.

The proposed site is located near various community facilities, including a day care centre, Family Resource Centre, activity centre, youth centre and also bus stops.

The New Mapoon community identified the need to have a play space to support after-school activities, as well as general usage, providing developmental and social activity for children, families and the wider community.

The project was also identified as a potential community-build project, which could provide local residents with valuable opportunities to learn new skills and trade practices in the construction of the park.

Planning and design

Black and More project manage the planning and design phases of the playground.  The project was originally granted to Bamaga Aboriginal Council prior to the amalgamation of the five communities that now make up the Northern Peninsula Area Regional Council (NPARC).   

Community members played an integral role in project decision-making, providing constant feedback as part of a high-collaborative planning and design process. Underpinning this process was the early establishment of a community committee and an information hub at the Family Resource Centre.

The planning phase saw community members discuss and identify their vision for the community park. Images of different play elements and spaces were used to show what would be achieved.

As part of the park's design phase, which commenced early 2009, the community also helped add their visions and ideas in the development of concept designs by participating in surveys, and 3D-modelling and mapping exercises, as well as by providing feedback to visual imagery, such as flash cards.

As part of the park's design phase, which commenced early 2009, the community also helped add their visions and ideas in the development of concept designs by participating in surveys, and 3D-modelling and mapping exercises, as well as by providing feedback to visual imagery, such as flash cards.