CityLab appointed to run innovative design competition for Queens Park West Playground
Moonee Valley City Council is excited to announce that leading design consultancy, CityLab, has been appointed to facilitate a design competition for the redevelopment of the much-loved Queens Park West Playground.
This competition will bring fresh ideas and creativity to one of our city’s most iconic open spaces, marking the conclusion of The Playground Project Melbourne—a landmark international exhibition that made its southern hemisphere debut at Incinerator Gallery earlier this year.
CityLab will launch the competition in November 2025, inviting registrations of interest from suitable organisations. Following an assessment of capability and capacity, three highly skilled competitors will be shortlisted and commissioned to prepare sketch concepts. Their designs will be evaluated against a set of design criteria, with the winner to be announced in May 2026. Council will then consider the cost of delivering the new playground as part of the 2026/27 budget process.
This project builds on community feedback gathered during consultation in May and June 2025, when more than 150 people shared their aspirations for the future playground. Ideas and themes from the community will play an important role in shaping the design competition.
Mayor Ava Adams said the competition is a rare opportunity to combine international design thinking with strong community voices:
“Queens Park West is a special place for our community, and this competition is about reimagining it for the next generation. By drawing on both expert creativity and the ideas of our residents, we’re creating a space that is not only fun and engaging, but also reflects what our community wants to see.”
Moonee Valley City Council is committed to creating engaging and accessible arts and design experiences and looks forward to seeing the innovative, sustainable and creative playground concepts that emerge through the competition.
Details of how organisations can register their interest will be shared in November 2025.