Cruickshank Reserve Playground Review
A lovely shady park with plenty to do for children of all ages.
Nestled in a lovely leafy intersection in Maylands is Cruickshank Reserve. It’s on the corner of Clifton and Phillis Street, just across from the Maylands Hotel. The Cruickshank Reserve playground has always been a favourite of ours due to the range of playground equipment. There’s enough to keep kids of all ages happily playing. With a bit of spare time, and some energy to burn off we decided to pay it a visit one warm summer’s day.
We have sometimes found this playground busy as it’s popular for birthday parties and picnics, but on our latest visit it was very quiet and peaceful. It is such a tranquil setting with pleasant views, lots of grass and trees and some park benches scattered about the place.
Play Equipment
It’s not the biggest playground but there is a good variety of play equipment with challenges for all ages. There is a main play structure which has heaps of different activities within it:
- a double slide
- a floating bridge
- a little climbing wall
- a staircase
- a corkscrew shaped fireman’s pole
- a suspended merry-go-round which you hang on to as it spins around
- a four-way seesaw; and
- a rope climbing structure
There are also some great activities for littler kids and toddlers including:
- ramps
- a pretend shop window
- colourful plastic balls which you spin around with your hands
- two swings including a toddler swing
- a small rocking dolphin
- suspended ‘tightropes’ which are not far off the ground
Safety
While the park is open to the street, the playground is fully fenced. One small thing to be aware of is that, like at many playgrounds, toddlers and littler children who are adventurous climbers may find themselves right at the top of the larger play equipment. There are a few drops and a wobbly suspended bridge that proved very attractive to my small person, but luckily there are handrails at an appropriate height and the surfaces of the play structure have grooves in them for extra grip. And that rubber ground surface below looks reasonably forgiving – fingers crossed!
Shade
There are lovely shady areas within the park to enjoy picnics and the playground itself is protected by a couple of large shade sails. There are also shades over the large aerial structure. Our latest visit was in the middle of a summer’s day and the playground was mostly in shade. There were just a few pieces of play equipment that were in the sun.
Tennis & Netball Courts
Just next to the playground are tennis and netball courts. Cruickshank Reserve is the home to St Peters Tennis Club and there are also games of school netball played here, so it can be very busy on weekends.
Food & Drink
Cruickshank Reserve is a lovely spot for a picnic, a barbecue or a birthday party as grown-ups can cook and chat knowing that the children are playing inside the fenced playground. There are two large picnic tables and two barbecues available for use.
The Maylands Hotel, a beautiful 1880s heritage building, is located across the road from the playground and there are also coffee and food options around the corner on Magill Road.
Parking
Parking during the middle of the week was super easy and there were plenty of parks in the shade just next to the playground.
On the weekends it might be a little trickier as just next to the playground are tennis and netball courts.
Toilets
There is a small block of toilets but no baby change facilities.
Location
Corner Clifton & Phillis Street, Maylands | Google map
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For more information and all enquiries please visit the NPSP Council website.
What: Cruickshank Reserve
When: Anytime
Where: Corner Clifton & Phillis Street, Maylands
Who: All ages
At Play & Go Adelaide we make every effort to provide accurate information to the best of our knowledge at the time of publication. We recommend confirming times, dates and details directly before making any plans as details may be subject to change.
As per all our Play & Go reviews, this is not a sponsored post and our review is done completely independently. Review date: 2017
Image Source: All photos by Play & Go
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