Is your local playground a kid's paradise? A well-designed playspace not only encourages healthy physical activity and development in children, but can also provide a supportive social environment for community interaction, and a boost to neighbouring homes.

The Australian Institute of Landscape Architects is running a national competition to recognise and celebrate some of the nation's best designed public playspaces as well as the landscape architects behind them. The Australia’s Best Playground competition invites AILA members to submit finished playspace projects, ranging from adventure playgrounds and cross fit circuits to waterplay and senior fitness courses. 

The competition presents a great opportunity to profile the incredible work of AILA members as well as encourage the public to think about the positive impacts of these playspaces on their community, said AILA’s CEO Shahana McKenzie.

The winner will be selected by People’s Choice and an expert jury comprising Daniel Bennett AILA, National President of the Australian Institute of Landscape Architects; James Grant FAILA, Principal Urban Design at JMD Design; Gary Ford AILA, Director of Outlines Landscape Architecture; and Dr Barbara Chancellor of RMIT University and board member of Play Australia.

The winning entrant will receive an all-expenses paid trip to the home of Lappset, Rovaniemi in Finland, courtesy of AILA’s Principal Corporate Partner, Lappset Australia.

Entires are open until March 15, and the winner will be announced on May 24.