Magenta Bryne with her daughter Delilah Hadzic eating morning tea at the Boundless Playground. Photo: Rohan Thomson Sleep-deprived parents and family members visiting Boundless Canberra with their little ones could soon reach for a coffee without having to leave the all-abilities playground.
The organisation is on the hunt for an experienced operator to run a permanent or pop-up cafe next to the playground off Wendouree Drive, near Lake Burley Griffin.
Boundless Canberra board member and Colliers International ACT state chief executive Paul Powderly said the cafe was always part of the groups big picture plans for the site.
He said the type of establishment would depend on the prospective operators who come forward via an expressions of interest campaign through Colliers International Canberra.
It could vary from a pop-up operator, such as a caravan, to a permanent building.
“We certainly see it as a cafe-style operation; something that will provide food and beverages during the week and on weekends,” he said.
“It really is to provide something accessible close by to complement the use of the playground.”
Boundless Canberra recently shared in the majority of a $2.2 million donation from the Deakin Charity House Project to help fund the development and upkeep of the playground.
The organisation expects the new shop to be open for business sometime next year, with the last pieces of playground equipment to be installed during the first six months of 2017.
The organisation will be responsible for providing the site and associated infrastructure for the cafe but would like to liaise with the prospective operator during the design phase to ensure suitable facilities are available.
Any permanent structure would require National Capital Authority approval.
The establishment of a cafe will be an added convenience for families who visit the playground, including Weston’s Magenta Byrne and her 2-year-old twin children Delilah and Ares Hadzic.
Ms Byrne said she thought a nearby cafe was a fantastic idea, particularly if parents forgot to bring snacks or water or were craving a coffee.
“There’s nothing close by down here,” she said.
“Getting out of the house and preparing stuff to bring with us can sometimes be a bit difficult. As a mother of twins I try to be organised but sometimes you forget things.”
Colliers International office leasing executive Aaron Bruce said the prospective cafe was an unusual market offering due to its location and flexibility.
“There aren’t many other blank canvass opportunities being offered on the shores of Lake Burley Griffin waiting for someone’s creativity to be added,” he said.
“Boundless is willing to consider many different scenarios for this opportunity including a contribution to the base building costs, construction of a base building structure ready for fit-out or the construction of a powered site, which means reduced start-up costs for all of the different potential operators considering the opportunity.”
Expressions of interest will close on Thursday, November 24 at 4pm.