PARKS AND RESERVES

There are a number of nice places for children, families and dogs to enjoy the outdoors in our area.
Most of them are easy to get to, and often within a short walk.

Come to  Dumbarton Avenue, Edwardstown playground park.  Separate children's play area and dog 'off the leash' fun area.
 Council call it Trott reserve. Cnr of Dumbarton Ave and Towers Tce.  Easy to get to by 241 bus, car or just walk.  Good spot for all people - old, young, babies and even dogs.   Fenced all around.

What is written below has changed so will give a quick round up and try to fix the page soon.   The ground is now divided into two parts - The front on Towers Tce is for children and families without dogs.    The second part off Dumbarton is for dogs.  Both halves have plenty of room for children and/dogs, with a shelter shed and seating around.  It is fenced off and safe.  Easy to get to and parking available.  Just the gate difficult for anyone in a wheelchair to open, but that seems to be the case for all parks with fencing.

 Plenty of room to play football or a family game of cricket.  Fencing around so kids can play chasey.  Some play equipment, but for best fun, bring something from home.  One bat a ball and a box  - good for cricket.   A large foam ball for soccer or football, especially if there is a breeze.  How about a few races?   A large skipping rope.  Water pistols on a hot day?    There is a small area for seating and eating if you want to be more formal, but if not, put an old sheet, or blanket on the ground near the trees to eat, or simply laze around in the shade and listen to the birds.    It is a good place to make up games,  have fun and get active.  Dogs are not allowed at any time in the playground area.    Note the fun mosaics on the pathway done by children from the old Harcourt Gardens Kindi and Nanna Cay.

 The dog park also has good seating, trees for shade and a large enough area for dog to run around.  Please keep a watch on your dog so it does not upset other dogs or owners.  Many of the dog owners get together and enjoy the social side of owning dogs.

If you are interested, there is a deli and second hand clothing shop not far from the park on Towers Tce - corner Wright St.
The Vietnamese Rolls are so tasty and the volunteer ladies in the charity shop are very friendly.

The Crescent Reserve is an unusual little area.   A rectangle in the centre of 4 streets.   There is plenty of room to use the play equipment there, make use of the picnic tables, and a grassed area to just run around and play superheroes or such.   Listen to the whistling through the branches of the pines.   It is a nice place to sit and enjoy the quiet area in which it is set  and take note of the lovely old homes around.   Art Deco and others.  See them before they are gone.
To get here you can come down/up Hyman Ave off Towers Tce, or Castle St off South Road.   Of course, you could meander from Cross Roads as well.   Car parking is fine here.    As the area is only fenced with a small wood and chain fence, it is not suitable to let the dogs off leash, but they still can enjoy a good walk and roll in the grass.

Above is a portion of the play area.  Lots of trees and grass to play on.  Play equipment on either end. As mentioned, the area around the park has many wonderful older style homes. Wander around and note the colour and beauty of many of these homes, as well as the wonderful gardens.   If you walk up Hyman Ave you will come to the Edwardstown Railway Station area.  Thank heavens there are a couple of spots of history still here, and this is one of them.  Just to walk under the pine trees takes one back many years, when most of the train stations had garden areas around them.  When we were children we would play under these trees - using the twigs for brooms, and pine cones for outlining our 'houses'.  Sitting, lying or standing quietly under the trees when the wind blows - listening to the noises of the trees as they 'talked' to one another.  This reserve also may get an update soon.  I hope so, as at this time it is not disabled friendly.  There is no path inside the fence line, even to the picnic table.

Latest news - Update coming to this park

Soldiers Memorial Grounds  Edwardstown Oval 

Above is my dog on a lovely piece of wood carved into the shape of a lounge.   This playground area is on the corner of East Terrace and Wood Street, South Plympton.   This is at the back of Edwardstown Soldiers' Memorial Oval complex.   The old playground was removed and this new one is recent.  There are many small areas for children.  By this I mean, there is a blackboard, water, sand, grass, climbing, etc  A sheltered spot for parents, and tennis courts attached to another court which can be used for other games even skateboarding.  Lovely old pine trees left to give shade as well.  The paths were great but wearing down a bit at the moment, but for walking or riding bikes, prams etc no problems.  Safe.  To get here, East Tce is at back of Oval complex off Raglan Ave, Sth Plympton.  At  roundabout.   Down or up Raglan from Marion or South Rds, or via 190 (from city or Glenelg) bus stop 15B.  241 bus from Marion or city. Stop 15 Towers Terrace and short walk via what is left of Soldiers' Memorial Rose Gardens, or up Robert Street and there is an 'adult' exercise area on the corner of Wood Street.    Water fountain there.     Shade and shelter is a problem until trees grow.    Lots of parking.  Well, there was, but with the new building this may be one big problem.




Above are pictures on left new playground - much nicer now.  Top right - even good for elderly to get around the new area.  WHEELCHAIR FRIENDLY   Bottom right photo shows the new exercise area at roundabout corner Robert and Wood Sts.  Been there for a number of years now, and have seen a half a dozen people actually use it.

Plenty of food places near.  Forbes shopping centre, Castle Plaza, Towers Tce, Ascot Park shopping centre.  No toilets nearby which is one major negative.  They are in the new building away across the other side of the complex and open only when the building is open.


There is a playground in Yanyarrie Ave, Reserve -Edwardstown.   Having lived in the area nearly 3 decades, I never knew about this one till last year. In fact, many people do not/did not know of its existence.   It had green space (no balls allowed!) some play equipment, seating and there were two tennis courts.    Big shady trees. However, recently Marion council has been 'changing' some of these areas because they were underutilised.  Knowing now, that even people who live in the area ie nearby streets did not know about it, I can see why.   If they advertised these places, people would know.   This is on a side street, with parking available, and safe, although not entirely enclosed to protect the younger ones.

As with other playgrounds, reserves in our area, no signage and this one is difficult to find.   Off Kanando Tce (from South Rd) is the simplest way.    No bus route nearby.   But if people living in the area could find it once with a map, then they could make use of it.  This is another part of Edwardstown that is changing rapidly as sahousing pulls down its old housing stock and replaces it with many more box like homes.
Yanyarrie St  Playground with courts at back





WEAVER STREET RESERVE  -  EDWARDSTOWN

Another very small playground is at the corner of Woodlands Tce and Calstock Ave/Lochardt Tce and Weaver Sts.   It is set on a triangular piece of land with the Ascot Park Vermont Tennis Club and their 4 courts at the Weaver St end.     Facilities for beginners and casual players to competition welcome.   Courts for hire also.    Ph 08 8298 3030    www.tennis.com.au

The playground here is very open to traffic on all roads, with only a small chain fence.  However, it is kept tidy and there is the usual play equipment for those who live in the vicinity.   There is seating under trees - shade.   A nice place to take the family for a walk or to  play.   It is not wheelchair friendly.  A grandparent with gopher or walker would not like this place.   A footpath is only there for part of the triangle and very difficult to get onto, or turn around to get off.   The only place to get onto the play area is via a driveway type path, but then it is grass. No nice paved pathways.  Bit hard with a pusher or child on bike.   However,  it is close to a lot of new homes and units as this area is pretty high density now.  Open streets, so easy for cycling and cars to park.  Nice to have a bit of green area but could be made more user friendly for all people.


FIRST AVENUE - ASCOT PARK - off Marion Road or Railway Tce.   Quite a nice size with lots of grassed areas, under cover shelter and play equipment.  There is no fencing and as the road is so close to a very busy intersection, it is not a place to allow children on their own, or dogs to run FREE.      However, bus M44 stops at top of First Ave, and Ascot Park Railway Station is close by and parking is freely available. Cycling along Railway Tce, to visit this park would be fun and easy with the new bike track.    With the number of new units and higher density living in this part of Ascot Park, and easy parking, this would be a good park to be made even better, but until then, a nice place to have a picnic and a kick of the footie.    As with most reserves in the area, it is not 'wheel' friendly and there are no paths around.   I didn't like the idea of a gate at the back of the reserve - if it were a 'see through' gate, I would feel more comfortable.    The sheltered seating here would be very nice if there was a path to get there, as there are many bushes and trees to encourage bird life.  However, this playground/reserve is up for big changes in the near future so things will possibly be much better.


Looking at First Ave Reserve from 1st Avenue, while other show how big it is and looks towards Marion Road.
Nearest shops are not far.  Marion Rd just a few houses up and at crossing turn right and there is the Parkholme shopping centre.

AUDREY STREET RESERVE

Had never heard of this reserve until last week.  Went to see it today and met people who had lived in the area for some time but didn't know about it until recently.    Good area.  Love the little 'hillock' in the grass where one could roll down so safely.   Plenty to do and the area has been updated.
Loved the way the footpath curves upwards to the opening of the reserve area, and one can follow up to the play equipment or sit for a while - there is some nice seating - or slowly walk on.

There is a table for a picnic - plenty of grassed area for playing ball games or just running around.  Dogs must be kept on a leash and one must clean up after the dog if needed, but there is no 'dog bag' spot.  Has bin and water fountain.      I will go back to this place again, as it has, except for no dog bags and no sheltered spot,  a really good feeling.  Looks good and as it is 'wheel friendly' it should be advertised so that people know about it.  Lovely homes and streets around it - for now!
To get there, one can drive from Daws Rd (near bus stop 20b) or from Adelaide Terrace at the other end of the street.   Bus 241 to the bus stop 20b from Marion or anywhere around Edwardstown.   Train to Ascot  Park station.  Parking alongside the park.    Nearest delis are on Daws Rd, corner West St, or go along Adelaide Tce to the '6th Ave crossing' and check out the updated Deli on the other side of Rail Crossing.  This is now, what I think is some upmarket coffee place and quite popular it appears.


JERVOIS STREET - SOUTH PLYMPTON

This reserve is actually between Jervois and Waterhouse Sts,     Very nice, and very popular. Specialised areas for different ages of children,  Good for very young children.
Safe.   Shaded in parts for parents.  Tracks around for cycling (kids) etc and racing, or exercising.  Last time I drove past on the gopher, a 'policeman' with a police helmet was directing traffic.   When I asked when I could go - this lovely, about 4 year old lad, said 'Sorry lady" and directed me on.   So nice to see.  This is one park that Marion council advertises regularly, so for any more information, please check on their website.
To get here is via Marion Rd or Towers Tce.          Plenty of parking space.   Bus M44 Marion Rd to stop 13  near the Subway shop and walk to Waterhouse St, turn left and walk to playgrounds.  It would be closer to go via 241 bus from city or Marion, or even from Castle Plaza.  Stop 13A and walk to Jervois St  where you turn left up that street,

This is one side of the reserve - the more open side.  To the right are enclosed spaces for younger children and adults.  In this photo, the left shows the 'road' or pathway that goes around the whole complex.  There are many different areas for all ages and interests, with nice open green spaces.

YAPINGA RESERVE    SOUTH PLYMPTON 

In Yapinga Street, South Plympton, this reserve can be reached via Cross Rd, Chitral Tce and Castle Sts or Wheaton Street off Marion Road,    It is not that far from Jervois St and next to South Plympton Kindergarten.   It is situated at the end of Yapinga Avenue, next to South Plympton Kindergarten.  A circular area with some seating as photographed, but again - as in many of Marion council areas, no shelter.  The day I was there, it did rain, and even though sheltering under a tree, got wet.  Then the sun came out.   One good thing about this area is that it is completely fenced off.  The grassed area is large enough and kept well enough to play ball games or such, or just running around.  I asked that a sign be put up somewhere in the area to direct people and let people know about the playground, but they won't be doing it!