When I was a Bude-Stratton Town Councillor, I ended up an exciting yet daunting task: help rework the old playground that had reached the end of its life. As a game designer, I saw this as more than just picking new equipment—I saw it as a chance to create a real-world play experience that kids would love.
Step 1: Understanding What Made the Old Playground Fun
Before designing anything new, I needed to understand why children and parents loved the existing playground. So, I surveyed the community and studied how the equipment was used. Here’s what stood out:
- Hopping between growing mushrooms – Kids loved the challenge of jumping between them, testing their balance and coordination.
- A large, short double slide – This was perfect for toddlers and babies, allowing parents to support them or go down with them.
- An old car for roleplay – Kids used their imaginations, from shopping to racing.
- Hiding spots at the top of the equipment – Giving kids a sense of secrecy and adventure.
These elements weren’t just play structures; they were tools for challenge, imagination, and social interaction. I needed to ensure these ideas carried over into the new design.
Step 2: Turning Insights into a Design Brief
With a clear understanding of what worked, I compiled a budget and a tender document that outlined:
- The importance of interactive challenges in the old park like the mushroom hops.
- The need for roleplay elements beyond traditional swings and slides.
- The value of hiding spaces for a sense of adventure.
- Equipment that was inclusive for all abilities.
- A design that felt culturally relevant to Bude.
Step 3: Reviewing the Initial Designs
The first proposals were so close to what I envisioned. The designers had included:
- A train by the beach, a nod to Bude’s historical railway.
- Exploration-focused play features within the train.
- Sensory and accessible elements, like musical tubes and a roleplay stand that didn’t require physical strength.
But some key aspects were missing. So, I pushed for a few refinements:
- More hiding spaces – A play boat and a simple cover was swapped for hiding boxes with an enclosed “beach house”.
- A better swing variety – Instead of two open toddler swings, one was replaced with a tango swing, allowing a parent or older sibling to swing with a baby.
- A more accessible slide – A simple, intuitive double slide that required no stairs and was easy for all ages to enjoy together.
- An enclosed play plane – One of the open swingers was replaced with a small plane, adding a different roleplay element but also perfect for babies who only just learned to sit up.
Step 4: Opening Day & Success!
With these changes in place, the playground was completed and opened on Friday, January 12, 2023.
It has since become a huge success, loved by both locals and visitors. The most popular elements? The tango swing and the hiding boxes. They allow for shared play, independence, and just the right amount of adventure.
This project taught me that designing for the real world isn’t so different from designing games. The best play spaces—digital or physical—give players the freedom to explore, experiment, and imagine. And when done right, they create memories that last a lifetime.
