This is a recently upgraded playground in the trendy little Croydon shopping strip that is well…read moreshaded with trees, has a good fence all the way around and the major features of a train station directly next to it. Why is this a feature? Well this is a great place to come and teach your toddler to look at trains, what they are, how they operate and what happens around a railway crossing where the big flashing gantry comes down to stop the cars from going. The train is very visible from the playground. Also there's a theme in the playground that runs along the train line (pun intended) so that you can play on a story book type train that is stationary and looks like it couldn't really hurt a fly, and still observe the real train coming and going. This is a NO DOG playground - so leave the dog at home this time, because dogs don't understand trains or toddlers quite the way we'd like them to, and they require special instructions; so do not bring the dog. I repeat, do not bring the dog. I think it is brilliant because the train and train line is a dangerous thing for kids. It is such a fascinating place and seems perfect to walk along. There was even children recently killed on a train line, so it is worth thinking about an outing or two, on the train to this very playground for a picnic and a watch. What do trains do? They stop at the station, people get on, and then they chuff off. The cars stop for them and people stop for them. There are even elements of trains in the seating under the shady trees so you can point to something and say "That's a bit of the track that the trains run on," so you have a lot to learn as a grown up and as a kid in this very special playground. Yay. Or rather I should say "Whoohoo!"

A great spot to relax after you've hit the Queen Street bakeries and clothing stores. This…read moreplayground sits right next to the train station, so trains stop regularly to the delight of the kids. This playground is split into a large section with a nice shady seating area, and then a smaller section for toddlers, complete with train to climb on. They have a very fun see saw to play on here as well as a basketball hoop and a barbecue area and plenty of space. Unfortunately there's no toilets here, so you have to go down to the shops if your little one wants to go. Otherwise a great place to relax and have a swing and watch the Choo Choo Trains go chugging by.

Hidden gem for parents…read more My employer held its family Christmas BBQ here last year. The highlight was watching a small kid try to operate a big water fountain. To reach the spout he had to let go of the button. He was pretty quick! ...but not quick enough for a drink. Solid entertainment, until mum came to the rescue and held the button. Lots of positives: Being out front of the Aquatic Centre ensures adequate parking, clean toilets and added safety. Soft mats or sand surround all equipment, with a fence around the lot to keep 'em caged in. Outside of the fencing are two BBQ's, and of course there's the Aquatic Centre kiosk for treats. Don't forget hats and sunscreen, as the equipment's not shaded; however, there is a gazebo. Slides, forts, a small flying fox, a wheel chair swing (requires key from Aquatic Centre during opening hours) a four way swing and a maze. Your kids will love it. The little shits won't want to leave.

I was pretty excited to put this playground through my daughter's paces and it did not disappoint…read more Some of the equipment has been very well used but it whole playground seems to have been maintained really well. This is an awesome place for Primary School aged children as well as younger children. There's a lot of rubber flooring, drinking fountain and toilets aren't too far away. There wasn't a great deal of shade over the playground or for those of us parents who sat on the lawn. There is a sheltered seating area closer to the playground (not that anything is too far from anything else) but with the number of families that come through this playground in a day, you would need to get in early for a table. The whole playground is fenced and there are BBQs and table/chairs under the pine trees just outside the fence also. There is just SO much here for children to play on. Don't be surprised if they want nothing to do with you for at least a couple of hours :-) *No dogs allowed* *Drinking fountain* *Sheltered table/chair* *Toilets short walk away*

If only this one had toilets it would be complete…read more It does have a BBQ and shelter as well as shade from the tree's. It has a nice large grassed area to play on with plenty of width and length for cricket, baseball or footy. There's a pathway running through the middle and plenty of seating all around with a lot placed beneath the shade of tree's - quite smart by the council! Even better it has a fully equipped, quite extensive playground equipment area and it is fully fenced all the way around it! It looks fantastic and is really quite inviting with it's bright colours against the black fence. As per all the playgrounds and reserves in this area it is well looked after by the council. This is surprisingly a much nicer area to playground visit than somewhere like Ingle Farm, where everything looks dead.

This reserve has a bowling club and green over one side and a guide hall over the other. But it is…read moreso beautiful and green an area (but wouldn't it want to be with the title including the word "Greenshields"). There are BBQ's here and plenty of seating and shelter. A half size basketball court (at least I think it's half size - it is bigger than the 3 on 3 area's at a lot of parks nowadays). The playground is a really good size with plenty of different activities to keep them amused for a while. Really nice, bright and newer looking playground too with some variety to the standard park equipment. There are a lot of beautiful big shady tree's here too. Pity it doesn't have toilets because that is probably all it would need. Lucky Macca's is just down the road so maybe if someone needs the toilet badly enough quivkly go to Macca's, use the toilet and grab the kids a cheap ice cream cone while you're there.

This has a nice playground with a few things to play on. Apart from that there are plenty of tables…read moreand chairs or stand alone seating around the park. Some nice green grass to sit on if you wanted but not really big enough and area for many ball games. It also has a 3 on 3 basketball area. No toilets, water or fencing but it's okay as a local playground or somewhere if you have to wait with the kids till your partner finishes work nearby, better than sitting in the car doing nothing.

This is a really nice little area in the middle of 4 streets. It has some fencing and even higher…read morefencing around the quite extensive playground area. There is shelter as well as shade from tree's and plenty seating and tables and chairs. A large grassed area, drinking fountains and rubbish bins. It would be a nice place to bring a picnic and sit on the nice lawn or under the tree's. Plenty of room to run around and some great equipment to tire out the kids and urn off some of that energy!

I've a partiality for parks. I never used to, but I do nowadays. It's how I achieve my vitamin D, I…read moreguess, though I (mostly unwittingly) tend to avoid what sunlight I can whilst I laze about on the green green grass. The more parks I visit, the more I've come to think of myself as a sort of park genius. My knowledge s'far extends thus far: a park NEEDS a tap. It's rare I'll drive to a park. It just doesn't feel parky (and that's about as far as I've reasoned into the disinclination). I'll walk (if the distance is friendly) or catch public transport (if it's cruel). And when I'm lugging around a bunch of notepads, pens and books, the LAST thing I want to do is carry a water bottle as well. So it's good to replenish my stock with a little tap water. And with a tap you NEED a toilet. I don't mind going bush (well, depending on the... matter of expulsion), but I've been caught WAY too often. Honestly, if I'm a parking genius I'm also a pissing dunce. And, though the long-winded intro sounded like the wind-rush judge's swinging hammer, I'm happy to report this park has BOTH of those things. And [insert groan-joke about the park fitting like a glove].

Roughly the same size as the Botanic Gardens. But most of it is used as a home for a couple dozen…read morehorses. Seeing them roam the fields with the Hills in the background is like a scene from back in time. The last holdout from the good old days when you were free to ride your horse down the street and it could poop where it damn well pleased. There's a dirt loop for there owners to ride around. Poor bastards probably get dizzy! Other than well-kept Glover Playground on Lefevre Terrace (western side) this park is pretty shabby. The playground has enough stuff to keep the kids entertained, probably longer than you want to keep them entertained. There are swaying chairs on big springs, forts, a sandpit, modern alien-looking monkey bars and a BBQ with picnic table all fenced in. Near to here are a couple sports fields with field hockey style nets. Considering the park is pretty close to Melbourne St. Mum and Dad can get a coffee after. There's a cricket oval and some tennis/netball courts down the hill on the south-east corner of the park.