We’re renewing Glover Playground South (Park 20) Blue Gum Park (Kurangga), one of Adelaide’s first and well-used playgrounds within the Park Lands.

This project will update the playground to meet current standards and create a safe, modern and inclusive space for children and families. It will also improve how people move through the space, including paths, layout and connections to the surrounding park.

This is a renewal of the existing playground, not a completely new build. Some equipment and features will be replaced or upgraded where they no longer meet current standards or have reached the end of their life.

Your feedback will help shape the design priorities and play experiences included in the updated playground.

What you can share with us

• The types of play experiences and activities
• What you like about the current playground
• What could be improved
• Features such as seating, shade and nature elements

What’s included in the project scope

• The playground will remain in its current location
• The project has a set budget and scope to work within
• Some equipment will be updated or replaced to meet current safety standards
• The final design will be developed by Council, taking into account community feedback alongside technical requirements

Why we’re engaging now

We’re at an early stage of the project, before any designs have been prepared.

We want to understand:

• What people like about the current playground
• What play experiences are important when visiting
• How the space can be improved for children, families and the broader community

This feedback will inform the concept design brief, which will be developed later this year.

The Kaurna people are the Traditional Owners and Custodians of the Adelaide Plains. Glover Playground South is located within the Adelaide Park Lands in Blue Gum Park/Kurangga (Park 20), with Kurangga meaning ‘blue gum place’ in the Kaurna language.

This area has long been a place of gathering and cultural significance. Today, it continues to hold importance as part of Kaurna Country.

Glover Playground on South Terrace has been a place for children and families for more than a century.

Opened in December 1918, it was the first of four playgrounds established on Adelaide’s Park Lands. The playground was initiated by Lord Mayor Glover, who recognised the need for safe, dedicated spaces for children in a growing city with a large residential population.

Glover personally contributed funding to support its creation, helping to deliver a fully equipped and supervised playground. The concept was inspired by similar playgrounds interstate and reflected a shift in how public spaces were designed, with a focus on children’s recreation and wellbeing.

Early plans of the South Terrace site show a well-designed playground with open lawns, shaded areas and a variety of play equipment. This included swings, a giant stride, see-saws and a wading pool, along with paths and garden beds.

The playground was actively supervised, with attendants on site to support safe play. At the time, access was restricted to women and children, reflecting the social conditions of the early 20th century.

Since its opening, the Glover Playground South (Park 20) has undergone a number of upgrades and changes. While the equipment and layout have evolved, it has continued to serve the same purpose as a dedicated place for play, connection and community in the Park Lands.

Looking ahead, the future playground will build on this legacy by creating a more inclusive, accessible and nature-based playspace. The design will aim to support a wide range of ages and abilities, encourage imaginative and active play, and strengthen connections to the surrounding Park Lands.

As we look toward the future, the next design chapter for Glover Playground South (Park 20) will honour both narratives – celebrating its pioneering role as one of Adelaide’s earliest formal playgrounds, while recognising thousands of years of Kaurna connection to the Park Lands. Your voice is essential in shaping this shared future, and we invite you to provide your feedback as we bring this much-loved space into its next era.