The highly anticipated Rippleside Inclusive Playspace, a Livvi's Place has opened to the public.
Developed as a partnership between the Touched By Olivia Foundation, Australian Government, City of Greater Geelong, Victorian Government, and Quintessential, a Livvi's Place ensures children of all ages and abilities can play together at Rippleside Park, with inclusion at the centre of the design.
As a flagship playspace, it is expected to bring families from around Greater Geelong and beyond to enjoy the new facility.
Its design includes a unique steel play structure with a variety of climbing challenges, bridge, and slides. There are also nature, sand and water play areas, including in-ground trampoline, sensory wall, and a range of swings and flying fox.
When not playing, families will be able to spend time in the gathering and picnic areas, including barbeque facilities.
The opening follows the upgrade to the nearby amenities block which includes a fully accessible Changing Places facility.
The new playspace replaces the previous playground, which opened in 2001 and was at the end of its life.
It was supported by funding of $2.1 million from the Australian Government, as part of the Local Roads and Community Infrastructure Program, along with $1.7 million from the City of Greater Geelong, $910,000 from the Victorian Government with $800,000 from the 2020-21 Local Sports Infrastructure Fund and $110,000 for Changing Places through the Department of Families, Fairness and Housing, and $300,000 from Quintessential and several private local business donors.
Deputy Prime Minister and Member for Corio, Richard Marles MP:
The Albanese Government is proud to have supported this incredible project and provide all abilities facilities for children and families.This beautiful play space will be an incredible asset for the Geelong and greater community to enjoy into the future.
Greater Geelong Mayor Stretch Kontelj OAM:
The opening of the new Rippleside Inclusive Playspace, a Livvi's Place is the culmination of considerable work from a number of people over the years.The early feedback from families has been extremely positive, and seeing children of all ages and abilities playing together shows this will be a wonderful asset for all in our city to enjoy.
State Member for Lara Ella George MP:
Investing in inclusive spaces like the Rippleside Inclusive Playspace is vital for fostering a sense of community and belonging. I'm proud to support initiatives that ensure children of all abilities can play together and create lasting memories.This new playspace is not just a playground; it's a testament to our commitment to inclusivity and accessibility for all families across the Geelong community.
Kim Becherand, Head of Inclusive Play at Touched by Olivia:
This Livvi's Place is a new jewel in our national network of sought-after and trusted inclusive playpaces.It reflects deep engagement from local children and families who experience barriers to play, schools and members of the wider community. They all requested somewhere where locals and visitors could gather, recreate, celebrate Geelong and play together whilst maintaining the feeling of the already known and much-loved playspace on the hill and nestled amongst the trees of Rippleside Park.
Jeavons Landscape Architects took on the challenge with gusto, and the painstakingly detailed, thoughtful and clever design provides play opportunities for all to enjoy, supported by fantastic amenities enabling everyone to get around the site with ease. Everyone will feel safe, welcome, and that they belong.
This Livvi's Place is truly intergenerational, with challenge and adventure for young and old alike. The bespoke tower features ramps, graduated stairs and climbing challenges so all children and adults can join in the fun on the upper play decks together. The design incorporates the existing trees, adds many more and uses natural materials like the exquisite pink mud stone, demonstrating how biophilic inclusive design is done.
Greater Geelong and all project partners have been committed to this playspace for a long time, and all have walked their talk on inclusion. Valuing diversity and connectedness is so important for their communities. We all know we need to get outside, play more, and enjoy time with our kids to live happier, healthier lives, and we know Rippleside Livvi's Place is just the place to do it.
Shane Quinn, Executive Director, Quintessential:
At Quintessential, we are proud to support communities that have been so good to us with our guiding ESG philosophy: to 'leave things better than we found them'.The Geelong All-Access Playground has been embraced by all levels of government, local business, project partners and the wider community, and sets a new benchmark for inclusive all access design.
This project is about more than play equipment — it is about families connecting, supporting each other, and building bonds that extend well beyond the playground.
With smart design, inclusivity and all access design can and should become common practice across community spaces, workplaces and homes by using some of the smart designs incorporated in this playground.
The core feature of the project was always to challenge the status quo of all access design which this project has achieved at a world-class level.
We thank the City of Greater Geelong, the Victorian and Federal Governments, and all our project partners and the delivery team for helping deliver what we believe is world's best practice in all-access play for the Geelong and Victorian community.
