About the project
We’re upgrading the Athol Reserve play space in 2025 as part of Frankston City Council's Play Strategy 2021.
Athol Reserve is located at the corner of Athol Court and Warrandyte Road, Langwarrin, adjacent to Elisabeth Murdoch College.
The proposed upgrades to the play space and associated landscaping works aims to improve the overall park appearance, improve access and inclusion and better connectivity to the surrounding area.
Construction works are expected to begin in late 2025.
Project information
What upgrades are proposed?
The Play Strategy outlines a range of service levels for play spaces across the municipality which guide the features and facilities that can be included in each space.
Athol Reserve is identified as a local minor level play space which is intended to service its immediate locality, young families for regular short-term stays (up to an hour) and can be walked to from home.
As a local minor level play space, with a shorter stay time, the upgrade is focused on pre-school and junior ages physical play opportunities and variety and does not include public bathrooms or BBQs. The proposed upgrades include:
- Swing-set including basket swing
- Combination play unit
- Rocker
- New picnic table
- New seat
- Path connecting Warrandyte Road and Athol Court
- Associated landscaping works
We invite you to review our concept plan below, and to share your feedback via our short survey. We understand that the community highly values its play spaces and we appreciate the time taken to share your thoughts with us!
Engagement Activity
Engagement Results
What is your interest in this project?
| Answer Choices | Percent | Count |
|---|---|---|
| I live nearby (within 400m of the playspace) | 66.67% | 12 |
| Someone in my household is aged 0-4 | 38.89% | 7 |
| Someone in my household is aged 5-11 | 38.89% | 7 |
| Someone in my household is aged 12-24 | 11.11% | 2 |
| Someone in my household requires accessible play options | 5.56% | 1 |
| I visit the reserve to use other facilities (not the playspace) | 22.22% | 4 |
| None of these. | 11.11% | 2 |
| Total | 100.00% | 18 |
Do you like the look and feel of the proposed upgrades?
| Answer Choices | Percent | Count |
|---|---|---|
| Yes | 61.11% | 11 |
| Unsure / Mixed feelings | 33.33% | 6 |
| No | 5.56% | 1 |
| Total | 100.00% | 18 |
What are your favourite features from the draft concept plan?
| Answer Choices | Percent | Count |
|---|---|---|
| Swingset including basket swing | 50.00% | 9 |
| Combination play unit | 66.67% | 12 |
| Rocker | 33.33% | 6 |
| Picnic setting | 38.89% | 7 |
| Seat | 38.89% | 7 |
| New path | 27.78% | 5 |
| Landscaping | 38.89% | 7 |
| Total | 100.00% | 18 |
Please share your reasons or other comments to support your response.
Feature Requests: Seating, additional play equipment, toilet, BBQ, bins, parking, accessibility features, all ages play, road barrier
- Really like the proposal. Ideally, I would like to see more seating for parents.
- Add pull up bars like monkey bars and make a calisthenics section like the UK calisthenics parks
- Few more equipment would be good
- I understand that local people can access the park but a number of parents frequent spaces outside the local area. Toilet facilities including barbecue facilities are needed. Also toilet and access for all abilities including elderly who may wish to enjoy park spaces
- Looks like this will be a lovely Playspace. Hope you have taken into consideration the impact that a bigger & more inviting Playspace has on parking. It is a BIG mistake you made when upgrading the Witternberg Ave park. Parking on weekends is still an ongoing problem. There is space for off street parking that still hasn’t been addressed!!! & where are the indented parking spots????You seem so obsessed with upgrading new areas before completing others. Come on give us the indented spaces!!!
- I think great for young children but bear in mind older kids from EMC will no doubt climb all over it and destroy it. Athol Court is a nightmare court. Full all day of school cars, builders trucks and local yoga school [nearby]. Not sure it’s the best scenario for young children as busy roads and probably need to be fenced, bonus may be the locals might have second thoughts about letting their dogs poo all over it like they do now, and don’t clean it up.
- Will require public bins and regular council up keep being next to EMC
- I just want to make sure the combination playset has appropriate play equipment for the 1-2.5 age range. it feels like Frankston city council is systematically taking out equipment for younger kids and putting in equipment they cannot use. ie. Kareela St
- Like to see a big slide and more play things for kids given I have 4 kids between 1-10 years old! Look at the Playgrounds out in the West for an idea because they are the best and we have nothing like that here within Frankston City which is not good enough
- I think a fence is absolutely necessary given the playspace is intended for toddlers and preschool aged children and that it is located next to an extremely busy road,
- Warrandyte Road is busy, and will only get busier now you are building your super kindergarten facility on a road with 3 existing schools (who's brilliant idea was that!). Point being, will need a fence to provide a barrier to the traffic. Do better FCC
- I think so close to the main road this would be better fenced in. Also the more seating the better as so close to the schools a lot of parents will bring kids to this meeting point
Comments raising concerns: height, litter, loitering
- My property is [nearby]. My main concern is that the height of the play unit is going to allow visitors to peer into my home. We already have enough issues with teens loitering in the park on weekend nights. I also notice that there are no proposed bins. There need to be bins near the EMC gate, the playground & the bus stop or the litter ends up everywhere including in my yard.
Can there be a low fence along Athol Ct up to the path entrance to distance from my home
Comments in support of the project: neighbourhood improvement, family friendly neighbourhood
- I find this exciting! We are a couple in our 30s and live [near] Athol reserve. We are thinking of starting a family in the future so this upgrade would be great for us when we have children. We are also excited about the upgrade to Langwarrin community centre to include updated kindergarten and maternal child health too! Will make things much more walkable for us
Where do you live?
| Answer Choices | Percent | Count |
|---|---|---|
| Frankston | 11.76% | 2 |
| Langwarrin | 88.24% | 15 |
| Total | 100.00% | 17 |
What best describes your gender?
| Answer Choices | Percent | Count |
|---|---|---|
| Woman or female | 70.59% | 12 |
| Man or male | 23.53% | 4 |
| Non-binary or gender diverse | 5.88% | 1 |
| Prefer not to answer | 0% | 0 |
| Total | 100.00% | 17 |
What is your age?
| Answer Choices | Percent | Count |
|---|---|---|
| 0 – 4 years | 0% | 0 |
| 5 – 11 years | 0% | 0 |
| 12 – 17 years | 5.88% | 1 |
| 18 – 24 years | 0% | 0 |
| 25 – 34 years | 29.41% | 5 |
| 35 – 49 years | 47.06% | 8 |
| 50 – 59 years | 5.88% | 1 |
| 60 – 69 years | 5.88% | 1 |
| 70 – 84 years | 5.88% | 1 |
| 85 years and over | 0% | 0 |
| Prefer not to answer | 0% | 0 |
| Total | 100.00% | 17 |
Which of the following do you identify with?
| Answer Choices | Percent | Count |
|---|---|---|
| Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander | 0% | 0 |
| Part of the LGBTIQA community | 5.56% | 1 |
| Speak a language other than English | 0% | 0 |
| Person with a disability or long-term health condition | 22.22% | 4 |
| None of these | 61.11% | 11 |
| Prefer not to answer | 11.11% | 2 |
| Total | 100.00% | 18 |
Project Outcomes
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What does the play strategy support at Athol Reserve?
These features are often considered for local (minor) and local (major) play spaces.
- Features for younger children
- Swings
- Slides
- Climbing frames / upper body
- Rocking equipment
- Balance activities
- Opportunities for imaginative play
- Open grassed space for running and ball games
- Shade trees
- Individual seating
- Bike racks/hoops
The following items are occasionally considered for local (minor) and local (major) play spaces, where there is demonstrated local need.
- Features for older children.
- Features for young people.
- Features for adults and older people.
- Level change.
- Sand play.
- Natural play elements; rocks, logs etc.
- Natural play elements; trees, shrubs, groundcovers etc.
- Hand pump water play
- Hard surfaces for scooters, bikes, basketball, netball etc.
- Connection to trails/bike paths
- Table tennis and/or similar equipment
- Hit up / climbing walls.
- Parkour / Agility courses.
- Intergenerational features / equipment.
- Shelter structures.
- Social gathering spaces; seats and tables.
- Drinking fountains.
- Bins.
- Co-located outdoor fitness equipment.
- Wide sealed pathway access to play space from the street.
- In ground, concrete edging.
- Rubber surfacing to provide specific play activities.
- Accessible furniture and accessible paths to them.
- Fencing (as required).
- Inclusive play equipment or activities.
The following features are only considered for Community, Regional and District level play spaces that are designed to draw larger numbers of people, for longer periods of time.
These features are not considered for local (minor) and local (major) play spaces.
- Manipulative play activities
- Integrated, sculptural play features
- Stand alone splash park or pad
- Bushland features for exploring
- Skate facilities
- Digitally interactive play
- Barbeques
- Toilets
- Designated (disabled) car parking
- Digital features (charging points etc.)
- Circulation path / paths
