The Red Lamp Playspace – Reddall Reserve, Lake Illawarra

Client: Shellharbour City Council
Location: Reddall Parade, Lake Illawarra NSW 2528
Budget: $1,000,000+

Get set Illawarra, one of the largest playgrounds to emerge in the region is now open and it’s nothing kids in these parts have seen before!

The Red Lamp Playspace promises to be the Mecca of fun for the region, scattered with sensory and inclusive play combined with challenging obstacles to entertain mixed-age groups and children of all abilities. The diverse range of play opportunities is designed to capture the imagination and bring joy to all who visit.

The long-awaited playground had a long road to get to this point. Back in 2020, groundworks were paused for over a year due to an Aboriginal Heritage Investigation. When construction did get the green light in 2022, an unprecedented amount of wet weather early in the year prolonged progress even further.

In and amongst the hurdles, Creative Recreation Solutions (CRS) and Shellharbour City Council worked tirelessly to get the show on the road and make the most of every dry day to get the job done as soon as possible.

The result is simply amazing.

Located on the eastern side of Reddall Reserve overlooking Lake Illawarra, stands an 8-metre tall KliX KUBIXplay tower, surrounded by a ninja course, a massive 5-meter cantilever swing, a 25-metre double zipline, an inclusive spinning carousel, sensory play panels, in-ground trampolines, a triple-bay swing set, nature trails and more.

But there’s a twist, a local historical legend is incorporated into the design, The Red Lamp. The Red Lamp is a visually striking play tower that is connected to the KUBIXplay tower via a rope bridge. The monument was inspired by a local story called The Red Lamp by John Dorl, which tells of a young boy playing a prank on people prawning in Lake Illawarra.

Pretty cool right? Well, it gets even better. True to its name, The Red Lamp tower glows at night powered by a nearby solar panel.

Creative Recreation Solutions (CRS) is a local playground design & construction company and we are honoured to have been part of such a special milestone in the Illawarra community and local economy. Not only will this new landmark bring joy to local families, but it will also attract visitors from afar, a bonus for local businesses that depend on passing trade.

Since the late 1990s, CRS with the assistance of their clients, have been creating state-of-the-art play spaces and sporting infrastructure all over the country. CRS employs a diverse range of highly qualified play space specialists, together, the team provide a full design, manufacturing procurement and construction service from under one roof, right here in Wollongong.

CRS works closely with their subsidiary company, KliX Play Structures. KliX is a leading manufacturer of next-generation play and fitness equipment that are 100% Aussie-made and owned. Since all the equipment is made on demand, in Australia, there are no overseas importing delays. Because of the Reddall Reserves’ immediate proximity to the ocean, CoastGard™ corrosive-resistant materials and specialised primers were used to help prolong the integrity and longevity of the equipment and done in accordance with Australian Safety Standards.

A special mention goes out to Shellharbour City Council for their hard work and dedication to see this project through and to the wonderful local community for all their support, input and encouragement along the way.

Project Equipment

• KliX KUBIXplay Fort
• KliX SWINGPlay
• KliX SPINNERplay
• KliX SENSORYplay
• KliX KANGATRAMPplay
• KliX ROCK-N-play
• KliX NATURALplay
• KliX ZIPLINEplay
• KliX NINJAplay

Project Surfacing, Landscaping & Park Seating

• Ground preparation/ civil works
• Supply and installation of wetpour rubber (Soft-fall)
• Concrete paths
• Sandstone seating blocks
• Turf, plants and playground mulch