You might know I have a thing for vintage playgrounds :) I had a wedding up in Toowoomba recently so I decided to take that opportunity and leave half an hour earlier to go check out Lions Park.
I vaguely remember it as a kid, although it appeared crazy massive in my memory. I suspect they did a big overhaul when the strict safety laws came in and I also suspect my kid mind made the park seem more impressive than it really was. Still I got giddy excited seeing the few vintage pieces that are left and a pretty amazing modern playground built up the top :)
Those above photos all belong to the old park, the octopus is my favourite but the rocket ship gets me feeling all nostalgic. I remember as a kid seeing a few around but now this one, along with the one we found in Tasmania are they only ones I've personally encountered in recent years. You used to be able to climb up into the rocket but now it's all closed off :(
At the top of the park is the new section and I must say it's pretty neat, I think they have found a nice compromise between the ultra safe guidelines in place and still being able to make the playground unique and fun. The below photos are from the new park :)
One vintage bouncy guy remains!!
Love the rickety houses and those mosaics. I didn't get good photos (always hard to take photos at a park without seeming creepy) but there are cute little bird sculptures on top of the buildings which I thought was a sweet touch :)
I have to say a shout out to my lovely cousin Heather as there were many family trips together to the park and I'm sure she has a better memory of how it used to be!
I have an picture of me and all my siblings on that octopus when we were all really young. It used to be bright yellow with green stripes :-)
ReplyDeleteEmily that's incredible! you need to post this picture for sure :)
DeleteAhh yes :) memories!! thats cool the octopus is still there :) oh and LOVE the rickety houses! :) <3
ReplyDeleteyeah for once I was happy seeing the design of a new playground :) I vaguely remember there used to be a flying fox?
DeleteHmm possibly, I cant remember (I wouldve been too wimpy for a flying fox so prob didnt pa any attention lol) Totally taking Lucy here sometime :) hope the wedding went well :)
DeleteYou definitely should take Lucy - I think it would be a really fun playground for a little kid :)
DeleteI would of avoided the flying fox too, I might be only remembering it because it scared me :P
brilliant. I love the octopus :)
ReplyDeletehe's so neat! Glad he was still there :)
DeleteI love everything about this park, it's adorable :D
ReplyDeletehellocynicalbadger.blogspot.co.uk
:) :)
Deletei love that octopus as well. and those sunflowers. they always make me smile :)
ReplyDeleteIt was definitely a happy park!
DeleteThe octopus and the rocket are amazing! I think I have never seen anything as this inspired in our playgrounds here (pity!) I also enjoy the newer part, I like its cartoon-ish vibe, similar to the Toon town in Disneyland.
ReplyDeleteoh it is like toon town! most of our playgrounds are super boring and genetic too :(
Deleteuou such a beauty :) i don't recall the playgrounds were ever this nice here in Portugal :)
ReplyDeleteit's a shame because kids are so colourful and imaginative - they should let kids design playgrounds :)
DeleteMy fav is the octopus too. So cool. This post makes me nostalgic for the playgrounds I used to play in in Singapore (of course you've been to one of those too right!)
ReplyDeleteMy favourite Trishie!! nothing compares (or that I've seen) to the Singapore playgrounds :)
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