Queens Park District Playspace, Badger Creek Road, Healesville
The playground, which has had a massive upgrade, has a lovely setting with plenty of trees and grassy areas dotted with picnic facilities such as tables, BBQs, toilets and water taps. The playground has a natural indigenous theme running throughout - keep an eye out for these elements which are beautifully crafted. An example is a carved stone slab with a story of how the platypus was created. "The ducks and the water rats didn't get along. They were warned by their families to stay apart. One day a young water rat swam beneath a duck and pulled her under. He led her back to his nest as he had fallen in love with her. The duck also fell in love with the water rat. It was nesting time and duck laid her eggs. When the eggs hatched, the duck wanted to proudly show her family her babies. When they arrived at the duck's home, her family noticed that her babies were different. They had the beak and the webbed feet of their mother but the fur of their father. This was how the platypus was created.
The playground has been designed to provide facilities for a range of ages. The main play structure is in one corner and has an elevated cubby and another cubby on the ground which are joined together with suspended walkways and rope ladders.
Other play items are a dry creek bed, set of swings where everyone swings into the centre-point, birds nest swing, standard swings, double flying foxes (one with a harness seat and the other with a disk seat), a large sandpit with bubbler tap, turtle musical instrument, in-ground trampoline, standalone structure with a small metal slide and wooden ladder, balancing logs and an accessible spinner.
The Healesville Bike Circuit which is a fun concrete bike track for younger kids is a short walk away and the park also has a basketball court an swimming pool.
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Location
Cnr Badger Creek Road and Maroondah Highway, Healesville 3777 Map
