Bradbury Park improvement project - Kedron

Brisbane City Council is creating more to see and do in a clean and green Brisbane by providing more opportunities for recreation in Bradbury Park, Kedron.

As Chermside and the surrounding areas continue to grow, it is important to ensure that our parks can continue to meet the recreational needs of residents.

The project was part of Council's commitment to enhance and maintain more than 2100 parks across Brisbane.

Project summary

About the project

The Bradbury Park upgrade has created more community opportunities to enjoy Brisbane's beautiful climate and connect with family and friends.

Bradbury Park provides a hub of active opportunities and is well used by the community for netball, lawn bowls, cricket practice, Girl Guides activities and dog exercise, as well as the recently added, award-winning nature play space, award-winning scooter track, fitness equipment and basketball half-court.

Bradbury Park upgrade also included a new amenity block, connecting pathways, a new car park with 53 parking spaces, and a large playscape.

Bradbury Park playscape

The playscape is a unique play environment that cannot be found in any other park in Brisbane. The Bradbury Park playscape is a 'biological city' that is made up of a complex series of 'hollows' (tower-like structures) and 'byways' (bridges that connect the towers) that are surrounded by a series of inclusive and accessible ground-based explorative elements.

'Hollows' are everywhere within the landscape at Bradbury Park, specifically if you take some time and focus your eye high up in the trunks of the majestic ironbark trees, which stand tall and shade the landscape. But it is within these 'hollows', that lorikeets live, and that is where inspiration is found for the shape, form, and name of describing the playscape. 'Byways', meaning a road or track not following a main route. It is the road less travelled, but it also alludes to a sense of mystery.

The playscape blends in with the natural environment to create a series of experiences that are infinite in movement – constantly changing and activating the senses. The design creates a never-ending loop of multiple play options and experiences, particularly suitable for children aged 10-15 years, that include active, social, creative, and quiet play opportunities. The playscape boasts a range of ground-based explorative elements that are inclusive and accessible, including a range of physical and discovery play elements that can be engaged with such as pummel ropes, a button chime, slide disc, hidden butterflies, texture panels, light/shadow play, switches, and a mirror. Children are able to choose where and how they play on and around the structure, rather than following any formal directions.

The new Bradbury Park playground provides a unique play environment, aimed toward older children aged 10 to 15 years, but still provides fun for younger, adventurous kids. Whilst this playground is compliant with Australian Playground Safety Standards, it has some very challenging aspects which some children may not feel they can navigate just yet.