A new playground on wheels in Melbourne's CBD is "supposed to feel dangerous", according to the City of Melbourne.
The playground — which consists of large bluestone climbable boulders, a metal slide, and a drinking fountain, all situated on platforms with wheels — opened today on the corner of Southbank Boulevard and Kavanagh Street in Southbank.
Lord Mayor Sally Capp said the play space was meant to feel "risky", but the platforms were all firmly set into the ground with steel rods.
She said playground and safety experts had tested the equipment to ensure it was "as safe as we want to make it" for a "risk-placed playground".
Cr Capp said while the ground under the playground looked like pavement, it was an "illusion" and was soft.
"It looks dangerous and it feels a bit risky, but actually it's a very safe place to play," she told Virginia Trioli on ABC Radio Melbourne.
"It does have boulders you can rock climb, you can do a tight rope, you can swing and slide, and use the monkey bars.
"It's something we're continuing to do across the city.
"Risk play parks are proven by the experts to really enhance children's development and I think adults as well."
ABC Radio Melbourne listeners texted in their opinions of the new park.
"We were there just yesterday with another family and the children thoroughly enjoyed it — ages six, eight, 10 and 12. Agree about embracing something different," one listener said.
But another said: "I think this risk playground will train kids in a way that gives them false confidence in other places that are actually dangerous."
Cr Capp said the playground was designed by Mike Hewson as a nod to American artist Diane Arbus's 1962 image 'Rock on wheels' and was made from recycled materials.
