Ian Potter Children's Wild Play Garden - Info - Sydney

We love the Ian Potter Children's Garden in Melbourne so when we heard about the Ian Potter Children's Wild Play Garden opening soon in Sydney, we were very excited! 

Design element: Artesian Water Play areaIllustration credit: Centennial Parklands

Design element: Artesian Water Play area

Illustration credit: Centennial Parklands

The construction of the Ian Potter Children's Wild Play Garden started September 2016 and is planned to be completed by October this year weather permitting. The Garden is not just another playground or picnic area, but a purpose-built, state-of-the-art facility aimed at providing children opportunities to reconnect with nature at a time when many have rapidly decreasing access to nature and the outdoors.

Design element: Bamboo ForestIllustration credit: Centennial Parklands

Design element: Bamboo Forest

Illustration credit: Centennial Parklands

The Ian Potter Children's Wild Play Garden will provide an outdoor learning experience for children aged 2-12, of all abilities and backgrounds, enabling a 'whole-of-life' approach to education. Located adjacent to the existing Education Precinct off Dickens Drive in Centennial Park, the Garden will consist of dedicated natural spaces including Artesian water play, creek beds, bamboo forests and outdoor classrooms, all designed to inspire and encourage children to engage in exciting, creative and imaginative outdoor 'wild play'.

Design element: Jungle PlayIllustration credit: Centennial Parklands

Design element: Jungle Play

Illustration credit: Centennial Parklands

Design element: Jungle PlayIllustration credit: Centennial Parklands

Design element: Jungle Play

Illustration credit: Centennial Parklands

The Ian Potter Children's Wild Play Garden project proposes a significant increase in the Parkland’s offering for children including:

  • play spaces that offer innovative, world’s best play experiences

  • play spaces to be co-located with complementary visitor spaces

  • play spaces with unique character that offer a diverse range of experiences and cater for a diverse group of people, from babies to adults

  • play spaces that respond to and enhance the existing Park’s landscape character.

It will create 'nature smart' kids, build and strengthen an 'outdoor, nature focused' community and enable 'nature-based' play.

Design element: MoundsIllustration credit: Centennial Parklands

Design element: Mounds

Illustration credit: Centennial Parklands

The key elements to the garden include: 

  • Artesian Water Play area

  • Bamboo Forest

  • Dry Creek

  • Eastern Suburbs Banksia Scrub (ESBS)

  • Jungle Play

  • Mounds

  • Observation Tree

  • Picnic Lawn

  • Relaxation Tree

  • Swamp Water Play and

  • Wild Play areas and Nature Art Space  ... wow!

Oh my, the Ian Potter Children's Wild Play Garden sounds amazing, we cannot wait to visit when it opens!!

Design element: Wild Play areas and Nature Art SpaceIllustration credit: Centennial Parklands

Design element: Wild Play areas and Nature Art Space

Illustration credit: Centennial Parklands

For more information on the Ian Potter Children's Wild Play Garden, head to the Centennial Parklands website.

For more ideas on what to do with the kids in Sydney, head to our blog, our daily spots list or pools & beaches or playgrounds list. And for a full list of parents rooms around Sydney, head to our parents room page.