A new playground in Kew to inspire recycling
Thanks to your feedback, we’ve created a final design for Reservoir Reserve playground in Kew where play inspires a love for recycling. Read more about the feedback we received in the community consultation
We plan to build the playground later in 2026. When the timeline is confirmed, we’ll share updates here and by email to followers of this page.
Here's the final design
View the key features by selecting the hotspots on the map below:
Rendered image of the final play unit design
Exciting new play items include:
- main combination unit with ramp access and multiple slides of different sizes
- swing set with 4 swings including an inclusive swing
- inclusive spinner
- concrete scoot track with traffic signs and line marking
- pictographs signage
- interactive waste truck with wheelchair access
- play recycling centre with interactive bike and scooter charging station.
The playground design also includes the following features which will be created from recycled and repurposed materials:
- car play unit
- balancing beams
- a bike rack for bike parking
- Bluestone pitchers used as rumble strips.
We’ll upgrade some of the existing features, including:
- adding a new shelter over one of the picnic tables
- the footpath surface will be refreshed (as we heard many people use the path as a linking path).
The seat, picnic tables and drinking fountain will be relocated to better serve people using the playground.
Some ideas suggested for the new playground are not included in the final design, such as:
- Fencing – the playground will remain unfenced, consistent with our general approach for open connected spaces in our parks.
- Separate shade structure (shade sails) – instead of installing standalone shade sails, we will install play equipment with more integrated shade, a new shelter, and plant trees to provide more shade. This approach supports long-term sustainability and reduces maintenance.
- BBQs – this was recently upgraded.
Reservoir Reserve is classified as a district playground in our Playground Development Strategy. The playground’s category decides the budget, design focus and scope of its upgrade. Read more about this on our Upgrading our playgrounds page.
To make way for the new scooter track, we’ll be removing 2 trees which are located close to Grange Road. These trees have been assessed by arborist:
- The Agonis flexuosa Willow Myrtle has wounds and decay at its base
- The Ulmus parvifolia Chinese Elm, a regrown stump, has poor structure and a short life expectancy.
To replace these trees, we plan to plant 13 new trees, including these native varieties:
- Acacia pendula Weeping Myall
- Buckinghamia celsissima Ivory Curl Flower
- Callistemon viminalis 'Dawson River Weeper' Bottlebrush 'Dawson River Weeper'
- Corymbia eximia Yellow Bloodwood
- Eucalyptus macrandra Long-flowered Marlock
- Hakea laurina Pincushion Hakea
The location of these trees are indicated in the hotspot map above (see the green hotspots).
Community consultation
We invited the community to share their ideas through 2 rounds of consultation. In total, 116 people took part and helped shape the final design.
How both rounds of consultation were promoted:
- Boroondara Bulletin: listing in the print and email editions
- E-newsletter: listing in the Fortnightly Feed e-newsletter
- Letters and postcards: distributed to local residents, businesses and landlords
- Email: to Your Say Boroondara subscribers and relevant community groups and organisations
- Social media: posts via our Facebook and Instagram channels
- Posters: placed at the playground and Kew Traffic School.
Stage 1 consultation
In March and April 2025, we asked you to tell us:
- what you love about this playground
- what could be improved
- what you’d like to see in the new playground.
Who we heard from
We heard from 99 community members through surveys and submissions. Of these:
- 73% were female
- 50% were children under the age of 14
- 35% were a parent or guardian of a child aged 0-13 years
- 46% lived in Kew.
We also received 156 pieces of feedback from children on a sticker board, which asked them to place a sticker on the element they would most like to see included. The most popular elements were the waste truck and the shop front.
What you wanted to see in the draft design
You told us:
- The slides and swings are the most popular play items. We’ve made sure improved versions of these elements are included in the draft design.
- You liked the transport-inspired theme the best (55%).
- You would like a wider variety of play equipment including more ramps (22 mentions), having different slide options (14 mentions).
- You value the variety of play options for younger and older children.
Here’s what you said:
Stage 2 consultation
In October and November 2025, we invited you to review the draft playground design and share your thoughts. We wanted to make sure we understood your ideas from the first stage and are designing a playground that reflects what you love.
Who we heard from
17 community members participated in this stage of the consultation:
- 53% were aged 35-49
- 71% were women
- 50% visit the playground a few times a week
- 65% lived in Kew (the suburb of the playground).
Your feedback on the draft design
Of those who responded through the survey:
- 69% liked the design, rating it 4 stars or more out of 5
- You were most excited by the new main unit, swings, gable roof shelter and scoot track (75% said they’ll likely use the scoot track)
- Other feedback about the draft design includes equipment suggestions, fencing wanted, safety and accessibility improvements, bike rack design and use of recycled materials.
Changes to draft design
We’ve updated the final design to incorporate some of your feedback on the draft design:
- we sought more opportunities to use recycled materials and added a bluestone block car play element, balance beams and other material selections
- we changed the bike rack design from spiral to traditional bike racks for ease of use
- we updated the rubbish truck and digger springer designs to be more realistic
- we updated the colour scheme to better fit our neighbour, Kew Traffic School
- we’ve added pictograph signboards.
The playground will remain unfenced, consistent with our general approach for open connected spaces in our parks.
Drop-in session: Cancelled due to bad weather
Due to bad weather conditions, we have had to cancel the drop-in session originally planned for Wednesday 22 October (from 3:45 pm to 5 pm).
If you would like to speak with a Council officer directly about the draft designs, please contact us at boroondara@boroondara.vic.gov.au or call 9278 4444.
