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We’re upgrading the playground at Watson Park in Ashburton due to its age and condition. 

About the upgrade

This playground upgrade aims to:

  • improve accessibility
  • offer new and different play opportunities
  • better meet the needs of children and families, now and into the future.

Key features of the new playground include: 

  • multi-level play unit with towers, bridges, ramps, monkey bars, inclusive panels and 3 slides. 
  • swings, including 1 toddler seat, 2 sling seats, 1 basket swing and 1 inclusive seat.
  • a trampoline
  • a new play bench in the sand pit
  • a nature play area featuring honey shop cubby, rocks, logs and education signs about pollinators. 

Other features to be included in the wider playground space include:

  • 13 new trees
  • upgrading the drinking fountain to an accessible model
  • adding new seating and hexagonal platform benches
  • an accessible circular footpath around the playground.

The following will stay the same because they are still in good condition:

  • the sand pit and digger
  • carousel
  • shade structure
  • barbecue
  • picnic sitting.

Community consultation

We invited our community to share feedback to help guide the design for the new playground.

We received feedback over 2 rounds of consultation in 2025 and 2026. Thank you to everyone who had their say.

You can find out what our community told us and view the final design on our consultation website. 

Artist's impressions of the new playground 

A sprawling playground with ramps to different levels, slides, swings and climbing structures.
A view of the highest point of the playground where there is an enclosed, spiral slide. Leading up to it is a rope bringe. futher down are shorter slides and climbing structures.
All 3 levels of the main play structure. Ramps lead from the ground to the first level, then to the second. a rope bridge leads from the second to the top.
from the ground, a ramp leads up to the lower level of the main structure. other access points include stairs and ropes. There is a beehive design on the side of the structure..
A cubby house with a seat and large window. Above the doorway is a sign reading 'honey shop'.
two children playing with interactive panels where pieces slide and turn.
A swing set featuring 2 sling swings, and a round basket swing.
A swing set with a toddler seat an an inclusive seat.

Status

Construction of the new playground is expected to start in early 2027.

We’ll update this page and keep our community informed when construction timelines are confirmed. 

Timeline

DateProject stageStatus
October to November 2025We asked for community feedback to help shape the draft design.Complete
February to March 2026We shared the draft design for community feedback. This helped us refine and finalise the design.Complete
May 2026We shared the final design for the new playground, which incorporates our community’s feedback.Complete
Early 2027 We will start to build the new playgroundNot started
Mid-2027 Construction is expected to be completed.Not started

More information

To receive updates about all works, visit our consultation page and select 'Follow' at the top of the page.

For more information about construction, please contact or Landscape & Design team on 03 9278 4444 or [email protected].