Saturday, December 12, 2009

>> NEXT >> Dec 16th... Marshmallow Park, Adelaide

next wed is due to be hot again so we'll go early (from 8am ish.. but based on last time it was hot.. we'll probably still be there after noon) and explore a playground in town (opp japanese gardens) Marshmallow Park (named after the indigenous plant rather than the squishy sugary things).
in fact here's a link to another playground site that gives directions and shows what it looks like http://www.playgroundfinder.com/playground.php?playgroundid=95
If you're heading into town from glen osmond rd, in the South Parklands, on your left before you get to South Terrace.

There's big trees and shade.

Thursday, November 26, 2009

2nd December. Mitcham Reserve

On Brownhill Creek. Street Address is Norman Walk (off Old Belair Road, Mitcham).
great spot for a picnic and a play.
Mitcham Council has maps and pictures and lists of what facilities are available for all their parks including playgrounds... Mitcham Reserve is at http://www.mitchamcouncil.sa.gov.au/site/page.cfm?u=1259&c=9530

So.. we shared fruit. Some even stayed for a bbq lunch. Everyone had a fine play- and we had some things to say about the playground including:

A Hit:
Ramp which leads to slide.
Great Scenic Spot- creek, bridges, trees, ducks, feeding the ducks
In fact the equipment wasn't the main attraction with most kids spending some time in the creek, or on the bridge or thereabouts

Room for Improvement:
Not enough toddler swings- in fact near main playground equipment, no toddler swing. One over bridge and another right at farthest edge of park- perhaps better if these were bigger kid swings who might enjoy having their own space...
Need more shade --no shade over main dual slide, ramp equipment, nor swings leaving them too hot to play with.

OMG:
Spraying for Weed Control. Um.. kids, people playing, herbicide. Um.. no thanks. We thought this poor timing (it was peak hour at the playground, in addition to our group), dangerous and unneccesary (it seemed they sprayed places they were revisiting around posts and trees, why not whipper snipper them or... pull them out even).
And one large truck driving around park.. well.. one word- overkill.
Is Wed am lawn mowing day? This is the second time we've had council lawn mowing while together- the other being our first effort at Unley's Heywood Park.

Overall..
The creek and the ducks and general scenicness of park meant kids and adults alike had a fine, albiet slightly nervous, angsty time (see OMG).

Friday, November 6, 2009

Apex Park Hawthorndene 18/11/09

Watahuna Avenue Hawthorndene
the forecast was for 41C so we had an early PGC from 8am.
Two five star reviews from Fin and Fyn
More reviews and images soon

Sunday, November 1, 2009

The Boat Playground 04/11/09 - It's Fab!

End of Neville Street, Clarence Gardens. Can be accessed by at least 4 streets, depending on means of transport and familiarity with suburb.

"It's got it all- it's a bit of a gem" said Nicos.

Strengths included:
Variety
Both Lil kid and big kid stuff
Instantly recognisable object (AKA the boat) in the middle of the playground
Picnic Table
Boat like a cubby house, also invites role playing (has wheel upstairs and down)
Far from any busy roads- surrounded by ovals, bbq area and dead end streets.
good size
stuff to climb
hill slide.
lil kiddy dual slides
tackles the open yet closed thing- with good sized lil kid specific space with fence and open space playground and other facilities beyond.

Opportunity to improve:
water fountain begging for arts project.
some found boat silver slide too fast.

and we met Meno and her daughter Nadhi!

no stars measured but we dug for negatives and didn't really find them- eg Upon the suggestion perhaps the toilets are too far away- Nicos said "it's got toilets!" and then made his opening quote.

Oh and there were hard rubbish treasures found and enjoyed - folding chairs and easel

Kiddies testing today were Nadhi, Jamilla, Asger, Fynnbar, Samadhi, May, Fini, Inni, Azi & Quincey

Heywood Park 21/10/2009

reviews. Peter, Fin and Azi all gave it 5 stars, while claud and fyn gave an overall rating of 3.5 and 3 respectively.

We like the:
Good Shade
Tree borders
Ambience and Country feel
Wood Construction
Good Options for challenge and self directed nature play
no fence
spinners are good for sitting on your bottom

Room for improvement:
more kiddy swings (there's only 1 with chain, 3 without)

Observation:
this playground is a 'dadda magnet' more men with their kids here than usually at other playgrounds.

We were torn about:
no fence and big space occasionally leads temporary child losing, but road is far away and no fence is also a strength of this pg.

fruit, shade and log borders are good