Adaptive Play Transforms Archerfield Wetlands from Wastewater Site to Destination Park

# What happened Durack, Queensland, converted a decommissioned wastewater treatment plant into a public park. The redevelopment reuses industrial remnants and adds play, youth spaces, and wetland functions to create a multipurpose landscape for the surrounding community.

# What's in the park The play precinct is the project's headline feature. Key elements described in the coverage include:

• A 12-metre-high structural element that serves as a visual and play landmark.
• A 13-metre super slide attached to the structure, providing a high-adrenaline play option.
• Water play components that work with the wetland theme and offer interactive, seasonal play.
• A youth hub sited close to the feature playground to meet teen and young-adult programming needs.

Designers combined large-scale play apparatus with smaller, more exploratory activities so the park serves a range of ages and abilities.

# Design priorities and approach Urbis is named as the landscape architect and the Brisbane Sustainability Agency as the client. The project emphasizes three practical aims:

• Adaptive reuse: Reconfiguring an industrial site and integrating leftover structures into new amenity.
• Sustainability: Linking play and wetland ecology to encourage environmental stewardship in park users.
• Inclusion and variety: Designing play and youth spaces that serve different age groups and activity preferences.

The design uses the site's history as an asset rather than erasing it. Structural remnants are incorporated into the park narrative and physical fabric of play areas.

# How play is framed Play here is framed beyond simple equipment replacement. The 12-metre tower and 13-metre slide provide strong focal experiences, while water play and smaller interventions promote exploration and learning. Proximity of the youth hub to the playground broadens the park's appeal and supports transitional programming for older children.

# Practical outcomes for the community For local residents, the park delivers multiple functions in one site: recreation, youth activity space, and accessible wetland landscapes. The project converts a formerly neglected utility site into an active civic resource that supports diverse uses and promotes contact with water-sensitive environments.

# Credits and context Project photography is credited to Christopher Frederick Jones. Damian Holmes reported the story for World Landscape Architecture. Urbis led the landscape architecture work for the Brisbane Sustainability Agency.

# Quick note on scale and feel The presence of large-scale play elements—tall tower and long slide—gives the park a destination quality. The water play and wetland integration aim to balance spectacle with everyday neighborhood amenity.