Orana Park Playground, Fresco Place, Clyde North
Bravery will be rewarded here. The highlight is the "Skywalk", a massive and very high rope climbing net which leads up to a cubby with the shape of a cats face. Once inside the cubby, follow a high rope net tunnel along the cats body to another cubby and down a big curved tunnel slide/tail to the ground far below. There's no easy way to get to the slide other than that twisted jumble of ropes.
For those who left their bravery pills at home or younger kids there are two elevated wooden cubbies, one reached by a scrambling wall with a curved slide to exit and the other cubby reached by a ladder with a wide curved slide to exit.
A big wooden shade roof runs across the middle of the playground with two big tables and the roof covers part of a big sandpit which has a water/sand play table.
There are also two cute bug springers, two in-ground trampolines, a spinning, wheelchair accessible carousel (wheelchairs can be locked in and can accommodate multiple children), birds nest swing and two standard swings.
A lovely feature of the playground are the wooden animal sculptures of owls and wombats and etchings of creatures in the rocks. There are also colourful red and white toadstools near one of the gates.
At the entrance is some recliner-style seating providing comfort for those who really wish to relax and the striking "The Watering Spirit" water sculpture by Geoffrey Ricardo which collects rain in cups on a 'Tree of Life' for the local birds to drink and bathe in. The sculpture is connected to recycled water with a nearby push-button to trigger the flow of water from each of the plates. This function has been designed to provide both an element of art and play.
Outside the main play area is another shelter with two tables, unshaded table, BBQs, water tap, outdoor gym with five fitness stations including battle ropes, skatepark and scooter path (with some bumps along the path and berms at each end), toilets (opening in April 2022) and grassy area.
There is a concrete walking path around the perimeter and a fence around the main part of the playground area to provide some protection from the road although the playground it is not fully fenced.
This is another diamond in the glittering ring of super playgrounds in Clyde North.
Photos:
Location
1 Fresco Place, Clyde North 3978 Map
Web Links
→ 100 Free Water Play Spaces in Melbourne and Regional Victoria
