Week in the life of…
March 2016
29th Feb – 6th Mar
7th Mar – 13th Mar
14th Mar – 20th Mar
21st Mar – 27th Mar
Month: April 2016
Pepperjack Way Playground, Point Cook
Froggy!
Big house
Panorama
Crocodile
Mini house
Larger house
BBQ’s and grassy area to run
Doplhin
Seesaw and swings
Knock, knock!
Damn sand!
Location:
Pepperjack Way is located on the way to Saltwater Coast. This park appears to be the same era/similar model to the Flower Pot playground at Alamanda. Apart from the sand, I’d rate this as being exceptionally toddler friendly, with enough to inspire their imagination to play.
Equipment:
- BBQ’s, bins, open grassed area
- mini house and a larger house
- smaller slide and larger slide
- small steps to access mini house
- peekaboo window on mini house
- climbing ropes to access larger house
- rubber moulded animals – dolphin, crocodile, frog (and i think a jellyfish?)
- 1 octopus shaped spring see saw
- 2 single spring rockers
- 1 x toddler swing, 1 x rubber safety swing
Jack liked:
the rubber shaped animals! At first he was a bit unsure of the crocodile, but once I patted it, all was fine, and he tried to lean in for a hug just like he does with Benny! He cottoned on quite fast as to which animal was which, he loved climbing over all of them, giving them a hug and waving goodbye when it was time to leave. The park is actually set up quite well! The little house is perfect for Jack’s little legs to climb the stairs and navigate the slide. My only dislike is that the park is made of sand – it just gets in everywhere!
Forsyth Reserve Playground, Williams Landing
The park panorama
Jack’s favourite
The swings
the rockers
Sand sifting equipment
the climbing ropes for the big kids
Toilets
flying fox and oval
bridges to wander over
The off lead dog area at the back
Weird hammock style swings
Location:
Located just over Sayers Road, Forsyth Reserve appeals to everyone! BBQ’s, toilets, large grassed areas with goal posts to kick a footy, plenty of equipment for the older and younger kids and you can even let your puppy stretch their legs in the fenced dog oval, while the kids play.
Equipment:
- wooden steps, leading to a slide with compressed rubber and tanbark around the mound
- 1 x nest swing
- set of swings(1 x toddler, 1 x rubber safety swing)
- 2 x spring rockers
- 1 x sand pit with sifting and pouring toys
- 2 x small hammock style swings
- 2 x excavation diggers in another sandpit
- off lead fenced dog park
- half basketball court (fenced)
- gym equipment
- flying fox
- bridges
- climbing ropes
- Toilet
- drinking fountain
- pretend – road bike path
Jack liked:
climbing up and down the steps!Every time I took him away from it, he’s wander back over to once again, go up and down. He wasn’t interested in the slide at the top though! Jack also had a play in the sand sifting area.
Swanview Walk Playground, Point Cook
The park entrance
The roundabout
The swings
On the see-saw
The rubber mounds – used for scooters
Location:
I came across this park when I used to walk Benny along the wetlands bikepaths, from home all the way to Hacketts Road and back again. I don’t think I would’ve found it otherwise, as it is a little off the beaten track. The park hasn’t got a lot of equipment suitable for toddlers, but Jack still had a ball, and it showed off his daredevil side!
Equipment:
- Big slide
- lots of climbing apparatus for the big kids
- round circling turntable
- 2 x swings
- 1 spring see saw
- bike track/ walking paths lead on to several other parks, close by
- wetlands opposite the park
Jack liked:
the rubber mounds built for the scooters to jump over! He thought they were the best toddler ‘hills’ ever! The only concern was Jack tumbling down the other side once he got momentum up!
Saltwater Reserve Playground, Point Cook
Jack being dwarfed by the nest swing
Very weird springy pieces at this park
One very cool harnessed swing
All the swings
The offlead fenced dog park is close by
I went on this once and vowed never again!
BBQ’s close by
Location:
This park sits within the Saltwater Reserve – the area is a huge complex of sporting ovals and also has Point Cook’s only off-lead (fenced) dog park. There is heaps of space to run, play and also plenty of parking. The surface is made of both tanbark and rubber- compound (under the swings and the slides are built on mounds of it). There isn’t a huge amount of shade at this point in time.
Equipment:
- a plethora of swings (2 x normal, 2 x toddler harnessed, 1 x bear swing with exceptional seat belt harness – I would assume that this is for even younger bubs)
- a few different slides
- climbing ropes
- nest swing
- see-saw for 2
- weird see-saw spring-loaded chairs (3 different types)
- seated playground spinner
- BBQ’s and drinking fountain
Jack liked:
the unusual teddy bear shaped swing. He made a bee-line straight for it so I’m assuming it’s either the shape or the colour that drew him in. He was also happy trying to climb up the rubber mounds – although largely unsuccessful at getting to the top. He may have to wait for his little legs to grow more! I was actually amazed he didn’t make a run for the dog park as dogs generally get his attention quite fast. This park looks a little lacklustre, but there was more than enough to keep Jack occupied.
Spencer Street Playground, Point Cook
The existing parkland
The little house
The swings
The planes kept circling, which kept Jack happy
The other end of the playground, suited for big kids
Location:
The playground is located just past the Saltwater Reserve sports grounds, on Spencer Street, which is in the Paragon Estate. The park is only small, but has the bare basics to entertain the kids and let them run off some energy. The area is well fenced and appears to have connecting bike paths to both the local area and around the wetlands.
Equipment:
- see saw
- interactive house
- swings (1 with baby harness, 1 x normal)
- table
- Other end of the park has some climbing apparatus and a nest swing. (suited to older kids)
Jack liked:
Watching the planes circling above and he also enjoyed playing in the house. The house had steps and seats that Jack tried to climb up and doors to walk through. There were also multiple blocks in the garden, that Jack liked to run up to and sit on. One of the older kids that were at the park later on seemed to enjoy walking along the pathway of these blocks.