Shelley Beach Park

“The Pelican Project”

Nestled among the trees along Shelley Foreshore at Shelley Beach Park, Van Ryt Industries collaborated closely with the City of Canning's Landscape Architects to develop a bespoke junior play structure inspired by the pelican and its seaside habitat. The design aims to spark creativity, curiosity, and physical activity in young children while ensuring a safe and stimulating environment.

The play structure "VRI Pelican Nest Fort" is a unique, custom-built multi-level platform that echoes the appearance of a pelican's nest, integrating elements that encourage exploration and discovery. Key to this design were intricate details embedded within the play structure, such as resin-cast features like coins, a message in a bottle, shells, and other nature-inspired items. These elements were strategically placed in the structural bush poles, adding an element of surprise and delight for the children, enhancing both their play experience and imagination.

In addition to the Pelican Nest Fort, we collaborated with our client, PHASE3 to provide recommendations for the surrounding landscaping, ensuring that the play features were seamlessly and safely integrated into the overall space. The project also included a smaller, custom version of our Double Pole Basket Swing, perfectly suited for the junior age group.

Despite working within a defined budget and specific requirements, VRI was able to balance creativity and functionality, all while meeting Australian safety standards in a compact layout surrounded by shade poles. VRI’s attention to detail ensured that the entire play space was cohesive to its environment and design style and offered a wide range of activities—multiple levels, slides, rope nets, climbing features, stairs, and weaving poles—catering to the diverse needs of young children and their carers.

• Pelican Nest Fort (158-PNF)
• Mini Double Pole Basket Swing (222-MPS)
• Little Cooker Kitchen – Small (301-KTS)
• Log (005-LOG)
• Stepping Stump (001-STU)