Help for Extended Search Capability
Melbourne Playgrounds has made it easier to search for a needle in a haystack - well, at least to search for a playground with BBQ, toilets and shade.
The Advanced Activity Search provides a multitude of searching capabilities. It can be accessed by selecting Search by Facilities, by Cost or by Rating across the top of the home page or the Search option in the menu at the bottom of every page.
Let's take a few examples.
You want to organise a BBQ birthday party at a very good playground in summer close to Malvern. You need to find a playground with a shaded playground area, shelter, picnic tables, BBQ and toilets.
In the extended search screen, select Play Grounds from the dropdown list of activities, enter Malvern as the suburb, select a radius of 5 km and tick the boxes for Playground Shade, Shelter, Picnic Table, BBQ Facilities and Toilets. To only include the best playgrounds select "Only Include Ratings with at least" 4 stars and then click on the 'Search Now' button.
A list of playgrounds with rating, description and photos will be displayed so that you can make a choice of a suitable playground.
If you want to make a slight change to the search then hit the back button on your browser and adjust the search requirements.
Take the case where you want to meet a friend midway between your houses and take your children to an Indoor Play Centre. In the extended search screen, select Play Centres from the dropdown list of activities, enter the suburb where you plan to meet e.g. Northcote, and select a suitable radius e.g. 5 km. In this case the facilities all remain unticked. Then click on the 'Search Now' button. A list of suitable Play Centres will be displayed.
Take the case where you are going to Beechworth for a holiday and want to find out what family activities are available in the region. In the extended search screen, select Outside Melbourne from the dropdown list of activities, enter Beechworth for the suburb and select a suitable radius e.g. 20 km. In this case the facilities all remain unticked. Then click on the 'Search Now' button. An extensive list of family activities in the region will be displayed.
Take the case where you have a child with a disability which means that the playground requires special attributes in order to be suitable. For example, an autistic child may need secure fencing in order to provide a suitable level of security for the parents. It is possible to search for a playground in any area (or even the whole of Melbourne) with secure fencing. A person in a wheelchair with a physical disability can search for the playgrounds with a Liberty Swing.
Melbourne has a huge array of family activities and our new extended search has made them a lot easier to find.
