Our family, along with many others in the neighborhood, cherishes the beauty of Machen's Reserve. Located in Kings Meadows, Tasmania, it is a unique and beautiful green space that offers a serene escape for local residents. It's a unique and beautiful green space in our community, cherished by locals for its natural allure and tranquillity. It’s a place where families walk, people exercise, and children revel in bush play. However, the reserve is under-utilised despite its immense potential. For example, the once vibrant frog pond has become overgrown, and there is currently no play equipment for children to enjoy.

By upgrading Machen’s Reserve, we can enhance the lives of the community significantly. Many local families would benefit from having a nature-based playground within walking distance. This will not only provide recreational opportunities for children but also foster an appreciation for nature and outdoor play. Incorporating nature-based playground equipment such as climbing structures made from natural materials, with a treehouse style fort, swings suitable for various ages and abilities (belt swing, crows nest, disability accessible and baby/ toddler swing), slide and sensory gardens, could transform the area into a thriving community hub.

A well-designed upgrade would not only preserve the natural beauty of the reserve but also encourage sustainable practices and environmental awareness among visitors. Numerous studies have shown that access to green spaces and nature-based play is beneficial for children’s physical and mental health. According to The Lancet, children spending time in green spaces have reduced levels of hyperactivity and improve their social behaviours. Furthermore, playgrounds designed with nature in mind promote physical fitness, creativity, and emotional well-being in a way that traditional playgrounds often cannot. 

The Launceston City Council has the opportunity to lead by example in preserving natural spaces while enhancing their community value. Investment in Machen’s Reserve will serve as a commitment to both community well-being and environmental stewardship.

In addition, the positive outcomes from intergenerational experiences for the mental health, physical health and wellbeing of elderly residents through access to intergenerational interactions in settings such as gardens and play spaces, where they may be able to share their own knowledge and experience and benefit from social connection with families have been well demonstrated in research.

With the reserve bordering onto the Manor residential aged care home and village, this upgrade also has the potential to enhance the lives of residents. The inclusion of a sensory garden in the play area, picnic tables and a community garden with accessible raised garden beds could also be an addition to the upgrade which could have the potential to connect the community, with the option for local families and the Manor residents alike to learn from and inspire one another through intergenerational relationships fostered in a nature-based setting, easily accessible to all.

The potential exists also in this unique reserve for a community led intergenerational bush playgroup which could connect young families living in the area with elderly residents within their local community. Benefits of intergenerational programs currently being explored by Associate Professor Ruth Peters, lead researcher in a large-scale clinical trial of intergenerational programs, at the University of New South Wales include cognitive function, physical ability, mood, quality of life and sleep for the elderly population, while positive outcomes to empathy, language, collaboration and social engagement in children are cited.

Further, inclusion of outdoor exercise equipment on the grassy area alongside the path that runs through Machen’s Reserve would support adults who already frequent Machen’s Reserve for the purpose of exercise to better utilise this space in their exercise routine, in addition to providing an easily accessible and free place to exercise for local residents who frequent the reserve with their children as a play space. 

Australian literature into community fitness supports the investment of local government into recreation facilities in parks as a means of increasing community physical and social activity and through these outcomes, it also improves physical and mental health of residents utilising the space. 

We urge the council to consider this upgrade as a priority and engage with the community, both local residents living in the area surrounding Machen’s Reserve, and residents of the Manor ages care home and village, throughout the planning and implementation process. Support children, families, elderly residents and nature by signing this petition and voicing your support for an upgraded Machen’s Reserve.