Templestowe you have done it again with yet another totally awesome park. This one is located on…read moreThe Grange and is surrounded by large houses. The park itself is always pretty quiet as not many cars tend to peruse this street. There is a fun playground with lots of unique play equipment. It is very colourful as well. There is a swing set, a climbing frame and some springy toys for young children as well. For older patrons there is a netball and basketball hoop complete with little concrete squares to allow a small game. For cricket fans there is even a set of three wickets in the middle of the reserve. There is plenty of grass to run around on and a nice scattering of trees that provide just the right amount of shade. To help you enjoy the surrounds are three wooden seats. It is a really nice place to relax on a warm afternoon and is big enough for a few people to share without feeling cramped.

This park is amazing! Tucked away in Templestowe has everything you want from a sand pit to flying…read morefoxes!

The Mossdale Court Reserve is a pretty awesome spot to go to if you are under the age of ten. If…read moreyou are any older, it is a little tiresome. What on earth is my reasoning for this you wonder? Read on: Benefits for people under the age of ten: - It is literally within metres of a milk bar that stocks all manner of lollies, ice-creams and chips. - It has a giant sloping hill that is great for rolling down - The playground is pretty awesome for a simple neighbourhood reserve - It never really gets busy Cons for people over the age of ten: - There is a giant sloping hill at the back that is a killer on the knees to walk down. - There is a sign advertising rules for the BBQ but no actual BBQ in sight - There is a public bin overflowing with wrappers of lollies, ice-creams and chips from the nearby milk bar. - Aside from the wooden seat and the adult swing, there really isn't all that much else to do here. As you can see, this reserve has its ups and its downs. Though as a Knoxfield resident I still am a little in awe of this place and I simply have to give it a high star rating. It has a HUGE playground compared to the equivalent reserves in my area and there is actually green grass that is actually growing! It's amazing!

Very nice park, good parking, safe environment for children with a fenced in adventure playground…read more One of the best in the eastern suburbs Very nice park, good parking, safe environment for children with a fenced in adventure playground. One of the best in the eastern suburbs

This park has a lot going on. Dog training school, archery lessons, cricket, soccer, BBQs and much…read moremore. It's a great local park with a little river to enjoy the serenity of nature. There is parking available and also a good track to ride your bike or go for a run. It's family orientated, which makes this park very safe. The playground is gated and you can also walk your dogs without a leash. Enjoy your day!

This playground is brilliant. It's been recently done up and has all sorts of things to keep me…read moreentertained. There's one of those talkie thingies, the one where you whisper into it and someone with their ear pressed to the other end can hear what you say. It's also got a roundabout (one of those things that goes round and round and round and round and round...), which I can safely say is NOT fun to go on late at night when you're a little bit tipsy and get motion sickness anyway. For everyone else, it's fantastic. Other features of the playground include swings, a rockclimbing wall (big enough for big kids to have to try a bit to climb), and a really well constructed slide set. Very cool.

Heaven to dogs and dog walkers; the Koonung Creek Reserve is one enormous canine playground…read more An off-leash park, there are trails and ovals where dogs of every breed imaginable disport themselves and owners chat. The Reserve also features a little lake, playground and exercise equipment set up periodically along the main trail. The trail is ideal for beginner runners as the hills aren't very steep, and there are a few benches and drinking fountains set up along the way. The track that I normally take stretches from Bulleen Road along the Eastern Freeway to Doncaster Road. Its only short but makes a nice loop, and you aren't too exposed to the freeway sound. Keep your eyes pealed for Eastern Rosellas, Rainbow Lorikeets and other native wildlife around the lake, and if you've got kids with you the playground is great and includes a barbeque area and toilets. The only downside is certain cyclists who speed along the track. Aggressive and not inclined to stop or let you know if they're approaching make sure you keep an eye on your pets and kids. This doesn't occur every day, but I have witnessed poor behavior on the cyclist's part from time to time.

The Lynwood Parade Reserve is pretty sweet. It has a decent sized playground in the only flat part…read moreof the land and is good for kids up to around age twelve. One thing I find amusing about this reserve is that it allows dogs off lead so long as they remain outside of 15metres from the playground, seating and BBQ areas. I don't know any dog that can understand those rules, nor any owner that can ensure their dog abides once they are off the lead. But, at least dogs are allowed off at all I suppose. The park is quite rustic and the ground is covered in leaves and twigs from the trees. It is also right next to a main road so I would be hesitant in letting any boisterous dogs off their leash here. The risk of the road is truly not worth it and there isn't a decent fence to keep dogs from the road. Otherwise it's a good spot to catch a break and relax if you don't mind the sound of passing cars.

A wonderful hidden little strip of nature. A wonderful respite from the hustle and bustle of…read moresuburbia, parks like this are largely underappreciated. Brought the wife and kids down here a couple months ago for some live jazz, and whenever we visit friends nearby we picnic with their family here too. Today I brought my laptop and got some work done in the shade, listening to the water fowl play, and the other murmurings of a park. A pleasant reminder that I should share my love of this special place with my fellow suburbanites. Pros: Proximity to life, great walks around the lake, wildlife, great for sunset/sunrise walks. Cons: No Swimming thanks to pollution.

It is amazing how Melbourne's suburbia hides away little pockets of nature. You can be driving…read morealong with the trees on the nature strip and eventually you realise the houses themselves are gone, replaced by the sprawling expanse of a sanctuary. Blackburn Lake Sanctuary is on of these many magical places. Tucked in from the train line and busier surrounding roads, it is near a number of schools, so it's no surprise their field trips will include walking through the park and looking for wildlife. With open park area and play ground for kids, there is perfect space for picnics and events. Community music events - like a jazz festival in February - will often set up shop here for people to attend and listen for free. And after you've stuffed yourself with nonna's best home cooking and cleaned up the paper plates, what better way to burn it all off than with a walk around the lake itself. Not so big that the whole family couldn't do it, there are several smaller paths leading to different places outside the realms of the park. One school actually backs on it, as does a nearby church. All manner of wildlife can be found - ducks, birds, even a fox once or twice. Don't swim - apparently in the 50s they used to, but sadly water pollution has turned that idea quite sour. However, sitting by the water and watching life go by has never looked better.