Footscray Park Play Space, Maribyrnong Boulevard, Footscray
A lovely playground located in a beautiful park beside the Maribyrnong River. The park has plenty of picnic facilities and there is also a shelter with two tables (no BBQ) within the fenced area plus toilets and water tap.
There are concrete paths running around the playground linking to soft surface areas around the equipment to provide maximum all-abilities access.
The main structure has an elevated platform with a jumble of fake wood below. A steep metal slide comes down from the platform but requires a certain skill level to reach. Take your pick from a rope ladder, curved scrambling wall or various wooden ladders followed by a suspended wooden walkway. The structure also has a lower easier slide to reach and a rope traverse.
In this area are a row of swings - bird's nest, standard swing for young kids with a safety chain and a swing with a harness. There are also two flying foxes - one with a disk seat and another with an enclosed seat for younger kids. Also a spinning carousel, stand on spinner, see-saw, balance trail of logs and a lovely music area with drums, xylophone and percussion play area with vertical metal cylinders to bang on. Even a tone deaf family like ours has a reasonable chance of making melodious music on these instruments.
Along one side is a lovely sandpit which has a huge metal parrot climbing frame - get to its beak and you can slide down the fireman's pole. In the sandpit there is also a cute bug springer and three huge eggs which could only belong to a dinosaur. The sandpit, as well as having plenty of sandy areas to play in, has small dual wave slides, a rocky structure and big metal sand play table. The landscaping is lovely and there are even a couple of shady trees and small grassy areas with the fenced area.
At the western end is a nice little water play area for the warmer weather comprising a concrete pad with water jets which vary in height and location in a sequence which is activated by pressing a big button next to the pad. Also a water pump with a creek.
There are three gym stations located in Footscray Park beside the Maribyrnong River, in the middle and eastern part of the park.
It needs to be noted that the playground is not fully fenced with gaps on either side of the toilets.
Parking can be difficult to find in this area but there is some time limited free parking from Farnsworth Avenue.
UPDATE on 14/1/23: Due to flood damage the playspace is currently closed.
Photos:
Location
40 Maribyrnong Boulevard, Footscray 3011 Map
Web Links
→ 100 Free Water Play Spaces in Melbourne and Regional Victoria
