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......................................................7
with Andrea Thomas
Here's a subjective question... What makes a
playground "the best"? According to seven year
old, Sierra, it "has to be big and have loads of
equipment or it has to have something a bit
different to everywhere else."
Four year old Alexander wants "lots of
sand" and many ways to move it! Children
of varied ages all like something different
in a playground. So, with that in mind, we
looked for playgrounds that had something
for everyone, even the grown ups. Enlisting
a troupe of children aged 4-12, we went on a
series of road trips around the Peninsula to
seek out the top five "best" playgrounds. We
took into account: variety of equipment, setting
- for beauty and safety (all are off the main
road), nearby amenities, visibility for those
watching the kids, innovative design and just
plain fun factor. We hope you will like our
chosen favourites. Here are our top five picks,
with pretty much equal preference. See you
around the playground!
1."I like the tube slide and it's close to the
beach," remarks Patrick, 7, of the Frankston
Foreshore Playground. (Mel 102 B3) You can't
beat this playground for its idyllic seaside setting
and its cool selection of equipment. Reminiscent
of turreted medieval castles melting in the sun,
the whimsical design of this playground appeals
to children and grown ups alike. It is colourful,
fun and full of ingenuity like the bells that play
underfoot as you walk from the expansive shaded
sand pit to the larger play structure. Slides to suit
all levels of maturity and adventure abound.
Hidden in the larger structure are musical
instruments and other surprises. This playground
has a full range of swings, including one for
disabled children. There are tables, benches,
plenty of shade sails and BBQs within the
complex. It's important to keep a keen eye
out for kids as they sometimes appear to have
disappeared( usually swallowed up by the tube
slide!) The playground is a stone's throw from the
beach if you want a change of scenery. There are
toilets and food facilities nearby. The playground
intersects with a scenic boardwalk which runs
roughly from the base of Oliver's Hill to the
Frankston Pier. At the end of the boardwalk, you
can explore the beautifully designed foreshore
promenade complete with mosaic inlay by master
artist, Anna Minardo. Kannanook Creek meanders
up from the beach for further walking enjoyment
with picnicking area adjacent. The bridge over the
creek is a lovely place to stand and stare out to
sea after playground exhaustion sets in.
2. "Wow! This place is so awesome!"
says Nikita, 12, of Sorrento Park Playground
(Mel 157 B6) This vast wooden fortress is a
labyrinth of cubby holes, climbing spaces and
balancing challenges. It's a virtual village of play
equipment connected by bridges, climbing nets,
tunnels and balance beams. There are areas
to sit and watch built into the structure, but
visibility once kids enter the wormholes is still a
challenge so be prepared to move around. Quick
slides at the top of steep and narrow climbs are a
highlight as is the unique twin swing which
fits two very cozily.
There are lots of swings, slides and a
multiplicity of choice play equipment. All
this is set on a massive verdant hilltop park
overlooking white sand beaches and the
rip beyond. Container ships, sailboats and
ferries glide silently by in the distance. It's
a serene and spectacularly scenic place
for a picnic. This park has been around
for a very long time as witnessed by the
majestic towering cypress pines which
provide shade over shapely picnic tables.
Within the park are toilets, BBQs and
scenic walking paths. This is a beautiful
place for a day out.
3. "It's just more fun than other
playgrounds," reports, Sam, 9, of the Hastings
Foreshore Hillview Playground (Mel 154 K11)
Set in the scenic Fred Smith Reserve with
extensive grassy grounds, watery mangrove
stands as far as the eye can see, historic jetty,
moored sailboats and pelicans landing and taking
off, this is an ideal playground environment for
both adults and children. Excellent visibility with
small seats set into the play areas give grown ups
an opportunity to sit and relax. This compact
marine themed playground is imaginative and
colourful. It's got nearly every type of equipment
from mini rock climbing walls to a multiple person
see saw, a wave rider boat and a giant spongy
crab for littlies to climb on.
This is an access for all abilities playground with
a special swing for disabled children and easy
access to equipment. The skate park next door
is a big draw card for older kids. It is a truly well
considered playground surrounded by every
possible amenity including the spectacular
Pelican Park Recreation complex with fantastic
swimming pools, gym and a beautifully positioned
restaurant overlooking the water, jetty and French
Island in the distance.
4. "Heaps of variety! It's got nearly
everything!" raves Kaitlyn, 10 of Ballam Park,
Frankston Playgrounds (Mel 103 B4) Now this
place really is a wonderland in terms of sheer
diversity and volume of equipment. There are two
onsite playgrounds - one for little children and one
for bigger kids although you could overlap in either
direction. The older kids playground has some
outstanding climbing challenges. If you're training
for boot camp, this is your place with a multitude
of rock climbing walls, chain mesh nets and a
wicked lengthy flying fox. The spinning chairs are
very popular. Next to this big kids playground is a
smaller enclosed little kids area. It has the most
engaging sand play area we've found with a multilevel
structure featuring a jug and pulley system
and other intriguing ways of shifting sand. There
is plenty of time for grown ups to sit on a bench
in this gated corral, but the bigger playground is
really problematic in terms of keeping sight of the
kids. It's easy to "lose" kids here and you've got
to watch carefully. This caution also applies to
the littlies playground on the other side of the park
which has lots of little tunnels. Other than that, this
park has all the amenities for a family fun day out.
5. "I love this place!" hoots Alexander, 4, of
Eco Park Mt. Martha Community Playground
(Mel 150 J2) (pic above) Nestled in a woodland
area, across the street from Mt. Martha Primary
School, this is a very inventive all abilities
playground. It's only in stage one of three planned
stages so it lacks a few amenities the other
playgrounds offer, such as toilets, but it definitely
meets the criteria of having something a bit
different to everywhere else. It was designed by
RMIT landscape architecture students.
The organic wooden structures make innovative
use of materials, such as, corrugated iron
and borer chewed posts. The main structure
with climbing walls, slides and communication
tubes is artfully enhanced by a series of mosaic
squares depicting the life cycle of frogs. The
flying fox is super smooth! Some rather unique
musical instruments are interspersed around this
playground, such as, the horizontally spinning Hapi
Sonic Scrolls which are metal cylinders with noisy
mystery objects inside. Our favourite instrument
was the Hapi Tadpole Tapper in the smaller play
area. This circular cluster of musically tuned
vertical pipes topped with rubber flaps is played
like bongos. It's so much fun! This excellent
playground is beautifully laid out and full of
thoughtful touches.
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