On a random weekday morning, I had no plans so decided to take my 2-year-old to check out the brand new park at Bruce Avenue in Killara. I’d read lots of posts in the NSM Facebook group about this playground, so was keen to see it for myself.
We arrived at 10:30 on a sunny Wednesday morning, and it was completely empty! There was literally not another person in the entire park. Sure, it was nice to have the place to ourselves (my daughter is not very good at taking turns on the swing!), but I couldn’t help but feel sad that Ku-ring-gai Council had invested hundreds of thousands of dollars into such a beautiful space, but there was nobody enjoying it. We stayed for about an hour, and during this time only one mum and her 2-year-old son turned up – although she did point out that it does get very busy at the weekends.
Despite the mid-week quietness (which I hope will change once more people find out about it!), I was very impressed with the park. Here are my observations…
Playground
The playground is perfect for toddlers and pre-schoolers, with a set of swings (one with a toddler seat, the other for older kids), a see-saw, a wibbly-wobbler (not sure what the proper term is for those things!) and a bigger structure with climbing bits and a few slides. The best thing is that it is all under huge shade cloths, and is set on compacted rubber mulch… so the kids don’t get filthy in bark and dirt! There is a water fountain next to the playground, which provided just as much amusement for my daughter as anything else.
The large play structure
The see-saw
The water bubbler, just as entertaining as the playground!
The wibbly wobbler thingy (or whatever it’s official name is!)
The swing set
The park is right next to the North Shore line (between Gordon and Killara stations), so trains whirl past every 5-10 minutes, providing much excitement for Thomas The Tank Engine fans.
Another nice thing about Bruce Avenue Park is that there is lots of open green grass for the kids to run around or kick a ball. A fence goes around the perimeter of the park, though there are two entrances that are open (no gates). It’s in a very quiet area and the surrounding streets aren’t very busy with cars, but parents don’t have 100% peace of mind that kids won’t escape (which can be a challenge when you have two or more kids to supervise).
Parking
There is ample free street parking around the park on Bruce Avenue.
Facilities
There is an electric BBQ with a large wooden table, perfect for a large family gathering or birthday party.
The BBQ
The picnic table, ideal for large gatherings.
Toilets
Disappointingly, there are no toilets at Bruce Avenue Park. I find it perplexing that a council would build a brand spanking new park with everything you could possibly want… except toilets. For me, this was a big negative… when you need to go, you need to go!
Overall, I was very impressed. It’s a beautiful space and the playground is brilliant for kids under five. In order for it to ‘tick all the boxes’, I would love to see a toilet block built and gates put on the entrance so it is fully enclosed… oh, and perhaps a mobile coffee van for sleep-deprived parents!
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Have you been to Bruce Avenue Park? What do you think about it? Feel free to share your thoughts below…
