Inspired by the Sea in Padstow, Cornwall
Contact UsThe team at Padstow Town Council reached out to Outdoor Play People when their existing play equipment began to fail. Faced with a growing list of costly maintenance issues, the Council decided it was time for a complete refresh.
They launched a formal tender process, seeking a partner who could design a new play area that was not only durable enough to weather Cornish storms but also deeply rooted in Padstow’s unique coastal identity.
The Council provided a detailed document based on a local community consultation. This gave us a direct line into what the residents wanted to see. Our mission was to translate those desires into a 100% Padstow-themed play area while strictly adhering to the Council’s budget and long-term maintenance requirements.
The Story Behind the Project
Revitalising a Community Hub
The team at Padstow Town Council reached out to Outdoor Play People when their existing play equipment began to fail. Faced with a growing list of costly maintenance issues, the Council decided it was time for a complete refresh.
They launched a formal tender process, seeking a partner who could design a new play area that was not only durable enough to weather Cornish storms but also deeply rooted in Padstow’s unique coastal identity.
The Council provided a detailed document based on a local community consultation. This gave us a direct line into what the residents wanted to see. Our mission was to translate those desires into a 100% Padstow-themed play area while strictly adhering to the Council’s budget and long-term maintenance requirements.
Celebrating Local Folklore & Maritime History
Padstow is world-famous for its fishing heritage, the RNLI, and the legendary May Day Obby Oss celebrations. We used these cultural pillars as the foundation for our design process, ensuring every piece of equipment told a local story.
A Bespoke Nautical Adventure
To bring the Padstow Theme to life, we designed and installed a series of custom-built zones:
To finish the project, the Council secured extra funding for themed wet pour safety surfacing, which mimics the ocean waves and ties the entire aesthetic together.
• The Trawler Play Boat: A massive centerpiece featuring a 900mm high deck, a wheelhouse with a ship’s wheel, a trawler-style climbing net, and a fish-hold themed panel. We also included a wheelchair transfer platform to ensure inclusive play.
• May Day Towers: To honour the town's famous Old Oss and Blue Oss traditions, we created hexagonal towers with a 2-metre tube slide. This area includes climbing walls and 10 stepping logs topped with Red and Blue Oss motifs.
• Harbour Rescue Toddler Zone: Featuring our popular St Columb Sailor Play Boat repurposed as an RNLI Lifeboat, complete with interactive fish tile panels for younger children.
• Role Play Food Van: A charming addition for imaginative play, finished with real tyres, a steering wheel, a serving hatch, and a menu.
Project Gallery
A closer look at the materials, play value, detailing, and destination impact behind this Outdoor Play People installation.
Community Pride & Longevity
The new play area at The Lawns has become a beacon of community pride. By involving the public in the theme selection, the town has seen a natural increase in parent policing, ensuring the area remains clean, safe, and respected.
We love our play area. After sourcing extra funding at the design stage to really go the extra mile and invest in the themed wet pour safety surface to compliment the equipment, we could not be more pleased with the whole outcome. Most importantly, this play area has helped hugely with a sense of community pride. This in turn has created not only a beautiful play area, but a safe one to be used and loved by everyone. Thank you to the whole team at Outdoor Play People. Everything has been wonderful, so much so that we signed up for their six-monthly maintenance checks package.
Padstow Town Council, The Lawns Play Area
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Visit Padstow Town Council
From the first phone call to the grand opening, we specialise in creating spaces that communities love. Whether you need help with a tender or a bespoke theme, we are ready to dive in.