Playgrounds have long been a place for children to get outdoors and have some fun, but last year highlighted even more their importance as a community hub. While much of the state was locked down by coronavirus restrictions, local playgrounds were vital for children and their parents to interact, explore and recharge.
Here are some of the west’s best finds for kids.
BRIMBANK AND MELTON
■■ Angelone Playground, Burnside Heights
■■ Rocket Park, Buckingham Reserve, Sunshine West
■■ Alice’s Playspace, Errington Reserve, St Albans
■■ Brimbank Park Play Space, Brimbank Road, Keilor East
■■ Apollo Road Playground, Taylors Lakes
■■ Banchory Green Playground, Banchory Avenue, Hillside
■■ Splendour Circuit Playground, Diggers Rest
■■ Hannah Watts Park, Melton
■■ Bridge Road Regional Play Space, Melton South
■■ Frontier Park, Rockbank
■■ Bloomsbury Drive Reserve, Taylors Hill
■■ Arbour Boulevard North reserve, Burnside Heights
■■ Maddingley Park, Melton
■■ Masons Lane Reserve, Maddingley
■■ Mill Park Reserve, Ballan
■■ Darley Park, Darley
NORTH
■■ Golden Sun Moth Park, Craigieburn
■■ Jack Roper Reserve, Broadmeadows
■■ Foundation Park, Mickleham
■■ Hume Tennis and Community Centre, Craigieburn
■■ Aston Traffic Park, Craigieburn
■■ Galaxyland, Sunbury
■■ Gumnut Park and Adventure Playground, Donnybrook
■■ Mill Park all-abilities play space, Mill Park
■■ Lyndarum North Community Park, Wollert
■■ Mernda Adventure Park, Mernda
■■ Norris Bank Reserve, Bundoora
■■ Orchard Road Playground, Doreen
■■ Gisborne Adventure Playground, Gisborne
■■ Romsey Ecotherapy Park, Romsey
■■ Johnston Street Park, Broadmeadows
MARIBYRNONG AND HOBSONS BAY
■■ Footscray Park, Footscray
■■ Yarraville Gardens, Yarraville
■■ Pipemakers Park, Maribyrnong
■■ Aeroplane Park, Braybrook
■■ Quarry Park, Footscray
■■ McNish ‘Dinosaur Park’ Reserve, Yarraville
■■ Paine Reserve, Newport
■■ Curlew Community Park, Laverton
■■ Braybrook Park, Braybrook
WYNDHAM
■■ Aeroplane Park, Tarneit
■■ Ashcroft Park/Aviator Park, Williams Landing
■■ Grandview Dinosaur Park, Truganina
■■ Grange Reserve, Hoppers Crossing
■■ James D Bellin Reserve, Werribee South
■■ Presidents Park, Wyndham Vale
■■ Riverwalk Water Park, Werribee
■■ Safari Park Cornerstone, Werribee
■■ Saltwater Coast Crocodile Park, Point Cook
■■ Woodville Park, Hoppers Crossing
■■ Wyndham Park, Werribee
