Folkparken playground

Based on the theme of tunes and amusement parks – voted for by children – Sweco has created a play environment that has become a destination for the whole of Norrköping Municipality. The public park, Folkparken has always been a popular playground, but now the environment has become safer and more accessible for a larger audience.

In the design, Sweco’s landscape architects have drawn on the structure of the site and preserved the existing trees. Adjacent to the new play area, is a renovated community building, paddling pool and bouncy pillows. The previous play area has been divided into more zones with equipment that challenges  children of various ages.

Amusement theme

Several play features have an amusement park theme, such as a carousel, swings, and zip line. Customised equipment was designed for the park that include a challenging climbing play area for older children and a playhouse for younger ones. The project also includes specially designed details such as a ticket booth, covered BBQ area, entrance archway, and a classic amusement park roof with an animal theme, created by a chainsaw sculptor. Everything follows the colour scheme of the playground, which provides harmony and uniformity.

Welcome to the playground!

An important issue has been to create a welcoming environment where the different play areas create inviting entrances. Entering from the north, you encounter a train at the ticket kiosk. From the east, you are greeted by a counter with a lucky wheel in a climbing house, and from the south, by a welcoming arch beside the park’s community building. The tall climbing frame can be seen among the trees from a distance, becoming a landmark that attracts passers-by to come over and explore.

Green environment and spatiality

The play areas are divided to make them easy to understand and to create a green environment that helps to both separate the play from other parts of the park and to delineate the different play areas. The graceful linden trees already provided a lovely green park space and they have been complemented with lower vegetation that will sprout colourful flowers, as well as lush foliage to enhance the amusement park feeling.

The lighting design is also based on the same general theme, reinforcing the inviting atmosphere. Fairy lights and integrated lighting in the play equipment provide a cosy and welcoming feeling even in the evening and during the dark days of winter.

A play environment for everyone

The park is designed, considering everyone’s needs, including those with physical impairments or struggling with too many sensory inputs, resulting in as far as possible, an accessible, inclusive play environment.

As part of the project, Sweco has utilised expertise across several areas: landscape architects, water and wastewater planners, structural engineers, lighting designers, and cost estimation specialists.