Kingston Parklands

A sustainable space for play, inclusion and environmental protection

With the Kingston Parklands near the Tasmanian capital Hobart, the landscape architects from Playstreet have created a green park and play oasis on the site of the former Kingston High School in the centre of the ever-growing community of Kingborough. The extensive leisure areas offer an attractive range of entertainment and activities for all age groups. The lighting of the site has been designed with the utmost consideration for the diverse wildlife that inhabits the area, whilst ensuring good visual conditions in the areas used by people at night.

Motion-blurred walker on Kingston Parklands Creek Pathway illuminated by groundbreaking 2200K WE-EF VFL530 LED luminaires creating warm amber pathway lighting, native Tasmanian grasslands and eucalyptus forest flanking path, demonstrating Kingborough Council's wildlife protection approach praised as 'groundbreaking step forward for protection of darkness and wildlife' by Environment Head Liz Quinn, completed 2022 on sustainable recreational space

In order to minimise the dramatic effects of light pollution on wildlife, special attention was paid to environmentally friendly lighting during the planning phase. The animal inhabitants, such as pademelons, native chickens, snakes, skinks and, last but not least, the highly endangered endemic swallow parakeets, were not to be impaired in their habitat. 'Light only where it is really needed' was therefore the top priority in the planning - for example on the pavements to ensure safe movement. Other project considerations included precise control of the light distribution and intelligent control as well as the use of warm light colours - implemented with robust, durable luminaires made of high-quality, corrosion-resistant materials.

Kingston Parklands Creek Pathway at night showing ultra-warm 2200K WE-EF VFL530 LED pathway lighting creating distinctive amber glow along pedestrian and bicycle route, massive native eucalyptus tree in foreground demonstrating integration of lighting with preserved natural habitat, 22 luminaires with P65 optics providing precise pedestrian/bicycle lane light distribution while protecting endemic swift parakeets and other threatened species

Night sky visible above Kingston Parklands demonstrating successful dark sky preservation with single WE-EF VFL530 luminaire providing minimal warm pathway lighting, native Tasmanian eucalyptus forest silhouetted against star-filled sky, exemplifying 'light only where really needed' principle of wildlife-sensitive design that protects nocturnal species while ensuring safe human movement through parkland

In collaboration with WE-EF sales partner Southern Lighting & Distribution, based in Hobart, a customised lighting concept was developed for the project using VFL530 pole-mounted luminaires. On the one hand, it consists of the pathway lighting of the Creek Pathway, which is designed with a colour temperature of 2200 K throughout and therefore produces a very warm light. A total of 22 VFL530 luminaires with [P65] optics are used here for pedestrian/bicycle lane light distribution. The playgrounds in the park are illuminated with a colour temperature of 2700 K. To visually enhance and accentuate certain play areas, some of the luminaires were also fitted with [P65] optics, while the remaining VFL530 pole-mounted luminaires are equipped with [S65] optics for asymmetric side-throw light distribution. This ensures safety and maximum visual comfort for visitors.

Kingston Parklands playground and pathways at twilight with children on bicycles, WE-EF VFL530 pole-mounted LED luminaires with P65 and S65 optics providing safe pathway illumination in warm 2700K, precise light distribution ensuring visitor safety and visual comfort while minimizing light pollution impact on surrounding native eucalyptus bushland habitat designed by Playstreet landscape architects on former Kingston High School site

The project is an impressive demonstration of how to meet the recreational needs of the community while minimising the impact on wildlife: "The use of 2200K luminaires along the entire pathway alongside the stream represents a ground-breaking step forward for the protection of darkness and wildlife," explains Liz Quinn, Head of Environment at Kingborough Borough Council.

Aerial view of Kingston Parklands near Hobart at dusk showing wildlife-sensitive lighting design with WE-EF VFL530 LED luminaires creating warm amber glow on Creek Pathway using ultra-warm 2200K color temperature to protect endangered swift parakeets, pademelons, native chickens and other Tasmanian wildlife, playground areas illuminated with 2700K, dark central bushland corridor preserved for habitat, Kingborough community and mountains visible in background

Credits

Completed: 2022 Client: Kingborough Council Sales Partner: Southern Lighting and Distribution Electrical Engineer: Stage 1 – JMG Engineers & Planners; Stage 2: CES Landscape Architect: Playstreet Photography: Jackie Chan

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