We’re searching for a new playground design to reinvent Queens Park West

The hunt is on for a world-class playground design to inject new life into the iconic Queens Park in Moonee Ponds.

Council today launched a design competition for the redevelopment of the much-loved Queens Park West Playground. 

The project builds upon community feedback gathered during consultation in May and June 2025, when more than 150 people shared their aspirations for the future of the playground.  

Competition advisors CityLab are currently welcoming expressions of interest from eligible artists and designers, who will need to draw inspiration from ideas gathered during the community consultation.

Two shortlisted entrants will then be asked to prepare preliminary concepts and have their designs evaluated.by a panel of experts: 

• Professor Mel Dodd, Dean of Monash Art Design and Architecture 

• Jocelyn Chiew, from Jocelyn Chiew Strategic & Urban Design 

• Georgia Chisholm, Adviser, Office of the Victorian Government Architect  

• Jade Niklai, Head of Visual and Public Art, Moonee Valley City Council  

A winner is due to be announced in June 2026. 

For more information, and to express interest, visit the CityLab website. 

Mayor Dr Rose Iser said the competition would secure for Moonee Valley a new, exciting community space for the future.  

“Queens Park is a place close to the hearts of many Moonee Valley residents, especially our children who frequent the playground,” she said. 

“This competition is all about recreating Queens Park for our children. 

“I think we can expect to attract some really imaginative, world-class designs that live up to our community expectations for our parks and playgrounds.”   

It’s been a big year for playgrounds in Moonee Valley, with record-breaking exhibition The Plaground Project Melbourne ushering in several new playground acquisitions, including the Lozziwurm Playground – which is now installed at Incinerator Gallery in Aberfeldie. It joins the Ringtales Playground and Edwina Green’s newly commissioned First Nations playable art sculpture in the gallery gardens.  

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.