My Park Rules

Education

Client
Marrickville Primary School (ProBono)
My School Rules competition

Disciplines
Landscape Architecture

Location
Marrickville, NSW

Date
2016

Imagery
Linda Hoang

Awards
2016 My Park Rules Competition Winner

Marrickville Public School was recognised as the winner of the My Park Rules Competition, a national initiative developed by the Australian Institute of Landscape Architects (AILA) and 202020 Vision to reimagine school grounds and community open space.
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Working in partnership with the school community, Tract helped develop a vision that responded directly to the unique social, environmental and cultural challenges facing the local area. With a highly diverse student population, limited access to private open space and playground areas affected by aircraft noise, the project sought to create a greener, healthier and more connected environment for students and the wider community.

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At the heart of the proposal was the transformation of an asphalt-dominated schoolyard into a vibrant landscape rich with trees, planting, play opportunities and spaces for learning, gathering and community participation. The vision extended beyond the school boundary, positioning the campus as part of a broader green network that could support community events, markets and social enterprise initiatives while strengthening neighbourhood identity and social connections.
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The winning design was praised by the judging panel for its clear response to the needs and aspirations of students. Through extensive engagement, children, teachers, families and community members helped shape a landscape that was both imaginative and practical, using creative adaptation and reuse of existing materials to maximise value and sustainability.

A key outcome of the project was the delivery of the first stage of the vision, including an Orchard Zone and community food-growing garden. These early works demonstrated the potential of the broader masterplan to enhance student wellbeing, support environmental education and create stronger connections between the school and the surrounding community.
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The project remains an outstanding example of collaborative, community-led design, showcasing how school environments can become catalysts for greener, healthier and more inclusive neighbourhoods.