Play your way at Gartside Reserve!

We’re excited to be planning for the upgraded playground at Gartside Reserve in Dingley Village! A draft design has been developed, and we would like to know your thoughts.

The new playground area has been designed to offer an inclusive experience and play environment for all. Highlights of the design include:

• Upgrading the combination unit to a tower unit (incl. junior and senior tube slides)
• An agility obstacle course
• Cup Spinner
• Two Rockers - Asparagus Rocker, Tin Rocker*
• Swing set (junior and senior)
• Pendulum social swing
• Speaking tubes
• Nature play with rock steppers and balancing
• New picnic shelter (incl. accessible picnic tables)
• New bike racks, drinking fountain, bins and accessible pathway
• New tree planting and garden beds

The existing basketball half-court will be retained, after recently being updated with a new tower and re-painted.

*These are to reference the Gartside Family who the reserve is named after. They operated a vegetable canning business.

View the draft playground design

Have your say

Share your thoughts on the draft design by completing the online survey below.

You can also make submissions by emailing info@kingston.vic.gov.au or mailing PO Box 1000, Mentone 3194.

This consultation closes on Friday 27 June 2025.

Designing your playground

In 2023, over 2,500 of our residents had their say about the future of play in Kingston - and it's clear: you love our playgrounds just as much as we do! Through a series of events and workshops, complemented by an interactive online survey and a playground design tool, we connected with a diverse range of our residents - from toddlers to seniors. Community feedback helped shape the Play Your Way Strategy - and our draft design for the upgraded playground at Gartside Reserve in Dingley Village!

Gartside Reserve playground is classified as a 'Local' play space in Council's endorsed Play Your Way Strategy. 'Local' play spaces are small but are of important play value. They generally service three or four neighbourhoods and should ideally be within a 10-minute walk from home without the need to cross a major road or railway line. Visits are still likely to be short in duration but may involve social interaction with others. They are often equipment-based play ‘spaces’ with some kind of personal fitness/active recreation option as well as support facilities such as seating, shelter and BBQ. There should also be surrounding open space for informal ball games, relaxation and social gathering. As such, the playground design has been developed in response to the 'Local' play space classification.