About the project
We are planning for an upgrade at Ferndale Reserve as part of Frankston City Council's Play Strategy 2021.
Ferndale Reserve is located at Ferndale Drive, Frankston with pedestrian access from Ferndale Drive.
The proposed upgrades to the play space aim to provide a broader range of play elements, improved access and inclusion. The upgrade will include more tree planting and landscaping improvements.
Construction works are expected to begin in late 2025 and be completed by early 2026.
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.
Ferndale Reserve is identified as a local major play space which is intended to service the immediate local area (400m walking catchment) for regular short-term stays (up to an hour).
As a local major play space with a shorter stay time, the upgrade is focused on a range of ages and offers physical play opportunities. This upgrade does not include public bathrooms or BBQs.
The proposed upgrade includes:
- New play structure
- Basketball shooting circle
- Triple bay swing including basket swing
- Rope play
- Flying saucer
- Picnic Shelter
- Picnic Setting and Seats
- Tree planting and 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) | 91.18% | 31 |
| Someone in my household is aged 0-4 | 47.06% | 16 |
| Someone in my household is aged 5-11 | 38.24% | 13 |
| Someone in my household is aged 12-24 | 8.82% | 3 |
| Someone in my household requires accessible play options | 2.94% | 1 |
| I visit the reserve to use other facilities (not the playspace) | 14.71% | 5 |
| None of these. | 0% | 0 |
| Total | 100.00% | 34 |
Do you like the look and feel of the proposed upgrades?
| Answer Choices | Percent | Count |
|---|---|---|
| Yes | 73.53% | 25 |
| Unsure / Mixed feelings | 23.53% | 8 |
| No | 2.94% | 1 |
| Total | 100.00% | 34 |
What are your favourite features from the draft concept plan?
| Answer Choices | Percent | Count |
|---|---|---|
| New play structure | 52.94% | 18 |
| Basketball shooting circle | 61.76% | 21 |
| Triple bay swing including basket swing | 35.29% | 12 |
| Rope play | 32.35% | 11 |
| Flying saucer | 20.59% | 7 |
| Picnic Shelter | 64.71% | 22 |
| Picnic Setting and Seats | 76.47% | 26 |
| Tree planting and associated landscaping works | 70.59% | 24 |
| Total | 100.00% | 34 |
Please share your reasons or other comments to support your response.
Comments from people who liked the look and feel of the proposed playspace.
Potentially identifying details have been edited, as shown in [square brackets]
| This would be further enhanced with cyclone fencing along Ferndale. It is a very busy road and I have had small children run towards the front of the park many times. Fencing would reduce a lot of anxiety. |
| This looks fantastic. Our only concern that we've seen happen at other play areas of the basketball shooting circle is too small to actually use it well. Hopefully your design includes a wider space so it can be used effectively |
| This is a great upgrade, currently the grass space is perfect for kids & pets. Not to sure of the size of the Basket Ball area, I fear vandals will do harm to the wall - if a wall is erected as per pic. The only thing that is missing is a drinking fountain for the public and dogs. I am glad that the bin will remain. My question will the site be fenced off like Willow Park ? A rubbish bin would be great at the playground on Willow Rd - Willow Park 9R Willow Rd, Frankston. |
| Think it looks great! Very excited as we use Thai space often! |
| The proposed design used large rocks as edging around the playground. However I see that they are not contiguous and are only connected in small sections. Our kids love walking over them and sometimes spend more time doing so than playing on the actual play equipment. It would be great for them to span the whole lenght of a section otherwise they aren't much fun to walk on. Or if cost is prohibitive than connecting the sections with a log or something similar they can walk on. |
| Sounds good. Will there be a drinking tap & plenty of seats in the shade? |
| Some sort of tennis court would be nice and cricket nets. |
| Shade shale over the play area, the slides get too hot |
| No more gum trees deciduous only grass does not grow under gums and are not the fire risk |
| Love the basketball court upgrade! Please make it really nice ☺️ |
| Love it looks amazing |
| Looks like a great improvement to a park we’ve visited many times. We have also enjoyed the upgrades to Willow Park nearby. Great work at building family friendly community spaces! |
| I would recommend a full basketball court instead of shooting circle. Done water features/water play would also be good and redirect people from Ballam park. A barricaded free leash area would also be good. |
| I would love to see some outdoor workout equipment. So that every one of all ages can use it. And so I can workout while my brother is playing! |
| I like the new proposed plan. I do hope that there’s many indigenous tree and shrubs planted. It’s disappointing to see so many jacarandas and non indigenous plants in the local area. |
| I like all the ideas but would like to know more about security lighting which would be absolutely necessary, especially as people would use as now the basket ball area. WE LOST THE STREET SECURITY LIGHT WHEN THE POWER COMPANY TOOK IT AWAY AS I NOTIFIED COUNCIL LAST YEAR. |
| I hope that more tree planting can be done, as well as planting of other smaller native shrubs that will attract birds and other local wildlife to the area. |
| - Have you considering access to drinking water - e.g. water fountain? - Please consider more seating, there appears to be only one picnic table and one bench seat, which is not a lot for such a large space. -Consider shade sails over the play equipment area. |
Comments from people who had mixed feelings about or did not like the look and feel of the proposed playspace.
Potentially identifying details have been edited, as shown in [square brackets]
| Too large scope of works considering the reserve only has a local catchment. We are a young family and presumably the target audience, however the scope is excessive considering the lack of supporting infrastructure of the reserve. If the intent is to draw more visitors to the reserve, you must provide parking and toilets. Recommend reducing scope to meet community expectations. Shared path should be removed due to interaction with VicRoads Freeway reserve. Please call me [phone number] |
| This reserver is often used by dog owners to let their dogs roam free, which sometimes results in dogs running through the playground. It would be good to have some official designation of the grassy 'kickabout' area regarding dogs. Either they are allowed in the reserve or not. |
| Please include a water fountain / drinks fountain and a dog bin / dog poo bag bin. So many local dogs play and walk in this space. It's perfect for it and suited really well. The plans look great, but a water / drinking fountain and dog poo bin and bags would make it perfect! A bbq area would be amazing but understand this might be over the top for the area. |
| One of the things I like about the reserve is the deciduous trees near the playground. It is one of the few playgrounds that have them. They provide great shade in summer and let the sun through in winter. If possible it would be great to keep these trees despite them not being native. If they need to be removed then perhaps they can be replaced with other deciduous trees (perhaps with better autumn foilage) or simply more planted to make the reserve unique. Liquidambar is one option. |
| I would like to see more of our local parks incorporate a outdoor gym equipment as we only have two options in Frankston at Beauty Park and Ashleigh avenue. This would be truly inclusive, catering for an older demographic and the large number of households in the area without children. thanks. |
| I like the location of the new swing set as there are some great views towards the city from around that part of the reserve. However I don't really like the fact that the number of swings is being decreased. This is one of the few local playgrounds that have more than two swings and one of the main reasons we come here. I am glad the play structure is being expanded but would like more natural shapes and materials used. |
| I know this is a big space, however I know I would be much more at ease at this reserve if the fencing along Ferndale Drive was more secure and didn't allow children and dogs to run in and out of the reserve. Also would like to see the back fence of the reserve which backs up on the peninsula link trail to be properly closed off as there are a few gaps in the fence where people walk though. |
| Could use another bench seat at the south end of the playground (preferrably in the shade) facing the playground as its great having a central spot to sit where you can see most of the playground. At the moment the only other seat is facing away from the playground. Also I don't see in the concept plan a place for a water fountain. Once was installed in the recent upgrade in Willow Park. That was a big hit with the kids. Would be great to have one here too. |
A bit about you
These answers help us understand who is interested in and impacted by the project.
Where do you live?
| Answer Choices | Percent | Count |
|---|---|---|
| Carrum Downs | 0% | 0 |
| Frankston | 96.97% | 32 |
| Frankston North | 0% | 0 |
| Frankston South | 0% | 0 |
| Langwarrin | 0% | 0 |
| Langwarrin South | 0% | 0 |
| Sandhurst | 0% | 0 |
| Seaford | 0% | 0 |
| Skye | 0% | 0 |
| City of Kingston | 3.03% | 1 |
| City of Greater Dandenong | 0% | 0 |
| City of Casey | 0% | 0 |
| Mornington Peninsula Shire | 0% | 0 |
| Somewhere else | 0% | 0 |
| Prefer not to answer | 0% | 0 |
| Total | 100.00% | 33 |
What best describes your gender?
| Answer Choices | Percent | Count |
|---|---|---|
| Woman or female | 54.55% | 18 |
| Man or male | 42.42% | 14 |
| Non-binary or gender diverse | 0% | 0 |
| Prefer not to answer | 3.03% | 1 |
| Total | 100.00% | 33 |
What is your age?
| Answer Choices | Percent | Count |
|---|---|---|
| 0 – 4 years | 0% | 0 |
| 5 – 11 years | 0% | 0 |
| 12 – 17 years | 0% | 0 |
| 18 – 24 years | 3.03% | 1 |
| 25 – 34 years | 21.21% | 7 |
| 35 – 49 years | 54.55% | 18 |
| 50 – 59 years | 9.09% | 3 |
| 60 – 69 years | 3.03% | 1 |
| 70 – 84 years | 9.09% | 3 |
| 85 years and over | 0% | 0 |
| Prefer not to answer | 0% | 0 |
| Total | 100.00% | 33 |
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 | 3.33% | 1 |
| Speak a language other than English | 3.33% | 1 |
| Person with a disability or long-term health condition | 3.33% | 1 |
| None of these | 86.67% | 26 |
| Prefer not to answer | 3.33% | 1 |
| Total | 100.00% | 30 |
↻Project Outcomes
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