Royal Reserve
The space to play
An urban playground designed to get people of all ages having silly amounts of fun. Now that’s our kind of ecovitalism.
Ecosystem: A play-scape for young and old
Every so often a project stands out from the rest and Royal Reserve in Massey, West Auckland is one of those. We are super-proud to have been part of creating the landscaping for a next-generation kind of urban playground. Nothing was standard here.
The park was designed to cater for all ages and the entire surrounding community in a way that would inspire and engage people on a whole new level. Royal Reserve has custom built towers, bike tracks, basketball courts and a monster, you-gotta-do-it 2m wide slide.
When Decker Landscapes were awarded the project we were delighted to help them with the plant supply. The plants were selected for their natural hardiness. The heat waves generated by the asphalt and concrete surfaces require good plant selections. Our native sand dune Coprosma species and the Phormium species can grow in naturally adverse climates. Within the stormwater swales the coastal Apodasmia (Oioi) can cope with extremes of dry and wet.
We loved how the playground design took into account the full ecosystem, understanding how people and the environment would interact. The designs played with colour, sparked the imagination, protected people’s safety and ensured structural resilience. The designs were true to our own Kauri Park philosophy – that an ecosystem should be designed to be teeming with life and vitality.
Ecovitalism: A wild frolic outdoors
At Kauri Park we say “Mother Nature sent us” and we think that’s very true of the Royal Reserve project. We know that Mother Nature wants us to get outside and play. Vitamin D has been linked to happiness and vitality and studies show how connection with nature helps our mental and social wellbeing, both calming and invigorating for the nervous systems of adults and children alike.
The reaction from the community has been huge and Royal Reserve is much loved and well used. When we go back to check in on our plants we know that they are thriving just as much as the vibrant community around them. So we have a slide and smile.
