Fairfield Park

Project

Fairfield Park is a much-loved stretch of parkland in Melbourne’s inner north, just a stone’s throw from the Yarra River. Its old playground was tired, out of date and disconnected from the rest of the park.

After community consultation in early 2025, Yarra City Council set out to transform it into a city-wide play space, with more play for toddlers and preschoolers, and room for children of all abilities to explore. It reopened in August 2026.

Design

Designed by MTLD Studios (formerly FOOKS), the new play space embraces the existing landscape, weaving around the established trees to connect play with nature and the nearby river.

The council also expanded the water play and added timber decking, boulders and logs for unstructured play, plus new shade and seating for longer visits. Wurundjeri seasonal markers etched into bluestone pavers acknowledge the Traditional Owners of this parkland.

Equipment

As always, play value is paramount for Urbania. Our play partner Richter Spielgeräte supplied the play equipment, which Urbania installed, and the star of the show is the Tree Top Walk.

Five larch Platform Huts at different heights are linked by a rope bridge, a suspension bridge, a chain-handrail bridge and a wobbly chain path, so kids can roam from hut to hut above the ground. Along the way there’s a climbing wall, climbing trunk, horizontal bar, two slides, two spinning discs and a pairs game of bespoke Australian native animals. One hut even has a shop counter with a brass bell, perfect for a spot of role play.

A Multi Swing has five seats, including an accessible toddler seat, a HUK Midi seat and a Stork Nest, so everyone can swing together.

Two Climbing Stacks, joined by climbing nets, invite kids to clamber, balance or simply sit and watch the world go by.

Urbania also supplied and installed two stainless steel Mushroom Column Springs, which release a circular veil of water with a press on top. The littlies absolutely love it.

All the timber is mountain larch on steel feet, built to keep the fun going for years to come.