Tell us what you think of our draft plan for Rushcutters Bay Park Playground

We're upgrading Rushcutters Bay Park Playground to make it more inclusive and enjoyable for everyone.

We recognise the playground is important to the community and is a great place for children to be active and play it would benefit from an upgrade.

We've created a draft plan, with the help of community feedback, which features nature-inspired ‘rushes’ alongside marine-themed play spaces such as a climbing tower structure to challenge older children, swings, a cubby play tower for younger children, a trampoline, better shading, a waterplay area, nature play and an exciting new slide.

The design also features a new shade cover, equipment for both younger and older children and a new more welcoming, accessible entry.

We invite you to share your feedback via the form below or come and talk to us at one of our pop-up sessions at Rushcutters Bay Park Playground on Thursday 5 March, 10am – 11am and Saturday 7 March, 10am-11am.

Feedback closed Monday 23 March.

Why are we upgrading the playground?

The fenced playground was last upgraded in 2008 and was identified to be upgraded in our Woollahra Play Space Strategy.

It currently features an accessible bubbler, four bench seats, rubber softfall, swings with two toddler seats and one child seat, a gyro spinner, a toddler activity board, an octopus activity board, a rocking boat, obstacle ropes, a cubby house climbing unit with a slide, ocean-themed animals and shells carved from stone and a see-saw.

What we heard from the community

In late 2024 and early 2025 we asked you to share your ideas on what you like about the playground and what could be improved or added.

We listened to your feedback calling for more shade, climbing opportunities and play equipment for older children, more swings, more slides, waterplay and more seating, which is reflected in the draft design. The design also responds to feedback asking for waterplay and more seating,and includes a waterplay area and a variety of seating.

Read more about what we heard below or read the 2025 engagement summary here.

The draft design

We've created a draft design for Rushcutters Bay Park Playground which features a range of elements.

New elements include:

• A nature-inspired “rushes” tower featuring a 2m-high slide and a climbing net, offering varying degrees of difficulty and targeted at children aged 6 and older
• A cubby play tower with 1m high slide for younger children
• An inground accessible trampoline
• Two inclusive picnic settings
• A three-bay swing set with two toddler swings, a round bird nest swing, and a strap swing
• Native vegetation gardens
• Natural ‘rushes’ theme artworks
• Sandstone logs for climbing and informal seating
• Stepping sandstones
• ‘Stream’ water-play with sandstone fish
• Two accessible parking spots and access path
• A new shade structure
• A new entry gate linking to the accessible parking spaces.

Existing elements to be retained and relocated include:

• Multi-rocker
• The bubbler
• The boat
• Sandstone artworks
• Seats and bins

Sample comments from your feedback

The top 5 things you told us you liked about the playground:

• The harbour edge parkland location
• The close proximity to the café
• That the playground is fenced and gated for safety
• The close proximity toilet facilities
• The pirate ship/boat element.

What you said needed to be improved or added:

• "Need larger play structure with multiple slides. Perhaps a double slide"
• "I think the climbing house could be bigger, and for the space some hide and seek obstacles could be added"
• "Play equipment for children of a wider range of ages; More shade"
• "Large slide, climbing gym/cables, water play"
• "New imaginative play equipment which challenges a wider age group and promotes create play"
• "Shade netting essential"
• "More play equipment for older primary school children please (7–11-year-olds) e.g. more climbing equipment, longer slides, bigger swings, balancing activities"
• "Water play, equipment to encourage climbing and risk taking is needed."

Read a summary of community feedback including children's drawings.

Have your say

Now we have a draft plan based on community feedback, we'd like your comments before we confirm the final design and then proceed to construction. We invite you to share your thoughts via our feedback form on this page or come and talk to us at one of our pop-up sessions.

Community pop-up sessions at Rushcutters Bay Park Playground:

• Thursday 5 March, 10am – 11am
• Saturday 7 March, 10am–11am

Feedback closes 11.59pm Monday 23 March 2026.

Next steps

Community feedback received will help us create the final plan. We will announce the final design in mid 2026. Construction is expected to begin in early 2027 and will take approximately 16 weeks. The playground will be closed during construction and is expected to reopen in autumn 2027.