Thank you to everyone who had their say
We're upgrading the Watson Park playground, located at 58 Munro Avenue, Ashburton
We drafted a design for the new playground using ideas you shared during the first round of consultation in 2025. We've proposed a pollinator playground inspired by bees, butterflies and flowers.
In the second round of consultation we asked for your feedback to see if the draft design created a buzz in the community! This stage of consultation closed on 19 March 2026.
Final design coming in mid-2026
We plan to share the final design with you in mid-2026.
View the draft design
Select the hotspots on the map below to view the proposed features:
Buzz, hop and bounce! This playground is themed around pollinating animals - bees, butterflies and little creatures that help flowers grow. Most play elements are inspired by the pollinators and their adventures, including:
- honey shop cubby
- bee education signs
- bee and butterfly imprints in the concrete
- bug and bee hotels
- interactive art
- a trampoline so you can bounce like a bee!
Keeping and updating your favourite items
- Multi-level play unit with towers, bridges, ramps, tunnels, monkey bars, inclusive panels and 3 slides.
- The height measuring chart.
- Swings, including a basket swing.
- The sand pit and digger – we’ve also incorporated a play bench for sand activities.
Park furniture
- The drinking fountain will be replaced with an upgraded accessible version.
- We’re adding new seating and hexagonal platform benches.
Our community shared some great ideas for the new design, but there are a few things that we can’t include.
This is because Watson Park Playground is classified as a district playground in our Playground Development Strategy. A playground’s category determines the budget, design focus and scope of the upgrade. Read more about this on Upgrading Boroondara’s playgrounds page.
The following will stay the same because they are still in good condition:
- barbecue
- sand pit
- shade structure
- carousel
- picnic sitting
The following items are out of scope for this upgrade:
- lighting
- fencing
- flying fox
- public toilets
- water play
- basketball court – see below for more information.
Why a basketball court is not suitable for this park
During the 1st stage of consultation, several residents shared their interest in including a basketball court as part of the upgrade. Unfortunately, a basketball court is not suitable for this park. Courts can create ongoing noise from ball bouncing and contact with the backboard, which can carry into nearby homes. To help reduce impacts on neighbours, courts are usually located at least 50 metres away from houses, but Watson Park does not have enough space to meet this requirement.
Residents who are interested in playing basketball can access nearby basketball rings which include quarter courts.
Drop-in session at Watson Park playground
Date – Saturday 14 March 2026
Time – 10:30 to 11:30 amPrevious consultation (Stage 1)
October-November 2025
A snapshot of your feedback
In October and November 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.
We heard from 84 community members through surveys, drawings and discussions with council officers. Of those people:
- 69% were women
- 88% were parents or guardians
- 76% lived in Ashburton – the suburb of the playground
- 20% were aged between under 14
- 88% visit the park to play on the playground.
What you told us
- More shade and trees: 47% of you told us you’d like more. We plan to plant 13 new trees as part of this upgrade.
- Play for all ages: Many of you said you’d like to see a range of play options for younger and older children.
- Favourite play items: Swings, slides, and the sandpit digger were the most popular play items - we’ve made sure they’re included in the draft design.
- Nature-based and active play: 36% asked for more nature-based play, and some requested a trampoline. We’ve added these for your feedback.
- More seating: 41% wanted more seating around the playground, so we’ve planned additional places to sit as part of the upgrade.
The ideas and drawing/photos you shared with us
Thank you to everyone who participated.
