The Ribbon Playground
Sydney
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Granville Park
Context Landscape Architecture
Splash and Play under the Water Ring
Landscape Architecture
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Project details
MERRYLANDS, NSW | DHARUG
2025Client: Cumberland Council
Landscape Architect: Context Landscape Architecture
Project Team: SDC Engineering, CA&I
Photography: Tilt Industrial DesignThe revitalised Granville Park is a vibrant destination for families and visitors, featuring upgraded amenities and inviting spaces for play and relaxation. A standout feature is the suspended halo waterplay ring, where children can cool off and enjoy interactive water fun in a safe and engaging environment.
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Background
Granville Park is a vibrant community destination designed to promote outdoor activity, social connection, and year-round enjoyment. The park’s main attraction is the Laurie Ferguson Water Playground, featuring the Halo Waterplay Ring. Unlike traditional splash pads, the ring is elevated, creating a dynamic curtain of cascading water that children can move through, beneath, and around, encouraging exploration and sensory play. Its sculptural form creates a memorable identity for the park, combining play and placemaking into a single element. The playground forms part of Cumberland Council’s commitment to delivering free, high-quality recreational facilities for the region’s growing community.
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Design Strategy
Tilt was commissioned by Context to develop the Halo Waterplay Ring through a design study and prototyping to provide structural refinement, and integration of the hydraulic lighting systems, while resolving the connections between key components.
Tilt’s design strategy was focused on maintaining Context’s creative vision while ensuring the hydraulic performance, constructability, and structural integrity of the feature. Working closely with Context and SDC, the team established the critical hydraulic parameters and operational requirements that informed the structural design. Through detailed engineering analysis, Tilt assessed the demands of the 8-metre-diameter, 3.6-metre-high waterplay structure, including water loads, pressurisation requirements, and the integration of a tensioned shade canopy in accordance with Australian Standards. This collaborative, performance-led process demonstrated that a circular hollow section (CHS) ring beam could successfully achieve the desired aesthetic outcome while meeting all functional and structural requirements.
By progressing the project through Tilt’s design study process and drawing on our extensive expertise in materials, manufacturing, and installation methodologies, the team developed a highly resolved and buildable solution that seamlessly integrated design intent, technical performance, and user experience.
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Tilt Services
Tilt was commissioned to provide aesthetic, technical and structural development and documentation for the structure.
- Project Consultation
- Research on materials, fabrication, compliance and certification
- Design Study and Prototyping
- Detailed Design inc. CAD modeling, Mechanical design, general assembly drawings, structural engineering review and certification, construction documentation
- Management of fabrication and project management
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- Immersive Play Experience
The Halo Waterplay Ring elevates the traditional waterplay experience through its height and dynamic water flow, creating an active playzone that encourages movement, exploration, and discovery. Its sculptural form creates a memorable landmark within the park, combining play, visual identity, and placemaking into a single experience.
- Integrated Technical Design
Through Tilt’s interdisciplinary team, structural, hydraulic, lighting, and architectural requirements were coordinated into design solution that maintained the preserved the creative vision while meeting performance objectives. Through close collaboration with Context and specialist consultants, Tilt’s team ensured that each system was seamlessly integrated without compromising functionality, safety, or aesthetics.
- Constructability Through Detail
Tilt’s rigorous design development process focused on material selection, connection detailing, manufacturing methodologies, and installation requirements to ensure the concept could be delivered efficiently and accurately. By considering constructability from the outset, Tilt developed a refined and robust solution that translated design intent into a practical, buildable outcome.
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Outcome
The Halo Waterplau Ring is a unique feature of the waterplay at Granville Park, delivering much needed civic asset for the community. The circular design creates a dynamic play experience that combines movement, engagement and exploration. Its contemporary design adds a striking landmark to the playground while connecting seamlessly with the parks other play features. The revitalised park is valuable destination for locals and visitors, fostering connection and community pride.
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Community-centred design, thoughtful planning and technical rigour combine to create a treasured place for locals.
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