Case Studies
Timberplay Scotland were appointed to enhance the play offering at Station Park in Moffatt after winning a design competition. The design featured a comprehensive Sand and Water play focusing on sensory experiences and development opportunities for the local community.
A Playground Pump is at the forefront of the waterplay and operates in combination with a series of solid oak water tables. These tables allow children to manipulate the flow of water and to be immediately immersed in the wonder of water play. By playing with the end gates of the tables, water can be flooded, dammed and released! The water reservoir provides excellent water play opportunities, particularly for younger children.
Water then flows at ground level across stone channels, created within a concrete base. At the midpoint, the Switch Gate then enables children to again interact with the flow of water – allowing them to choose the direction of flow. At the end of these channels is a Dam Gate, where children can hold the water flow until anticipation gets too great, and the flow of water is released into the sand pit, where it naturally dissipates.
The rest of the play space contains a number of sand play pieces. The ‘Building Site’ is a firm favourite of ours. Offering physical climbing opportunities, the Building Site also houses a number of Sand Play elements; winches, chutes, and wheels. Again, working in collaboration, children will work together to move sand around and produce dynamic movement of the loose play surface. The piece alone could easily host 30 children on a hot summer’s day.
Importantly, further sand play opportunities are also available to all visitors to the park, including those who may be wheelchair bound, or whose disabilities prohibit access across the sand. A Sand Crane and Tipper are positioned immediately next to the edge of the site, ensuring less mobile users can join in on all the action and feel just as included in the activity. The positioning of the Water Tables, also facilities access to water outside of the Sand Pit.
All of this contains fantastic play value and opportunity for children to collaborate, communicate and for their senses to be immersed in sand and water play. This type of activity is hugely lacking in many public spaces and has been of huge benefit to the visitors of Station Park.
