Harold Park, Forest Lodge

At the site of the former Harold Park Paceway, in Forest Lodge, a great new playground and recreation spot has been unveiled.
Adjacent to a large-scale Mirvac residential development and the Tramsheds precinct, 3.8 hectares of previously private space has become public space in which people can play, relax and gather. Harold Park now provides a much welcomed green corridor from Wigram Road and The Crescent through to beautiful Glebe Foreshore Parks set along Blackwattle and Rozelle Bay.
Tramsheds, at 1 Dalgal Way, is a popular food and entertainment destination created within the old Rozelle Tram Depot in 2016. The precinct offers numerous notable restaurants, cafes, a supermarket, other services and regular markets and other community events. You can find out more about what’s on at Tramsheds here.
If you’re driving to Harold Park, you may find street parking nearby or you can get two hours of free parking in the Tramsheds car park. Arm yourself with a coffee from one of the Tramsheds cafes, and the park is just a two-minute stroll away.
We checked out Harold Park midmorning on a weekday with our two-year-old son and were pleasantly surprised to find it was rather quiet.

The playground features a large wooden boat structure with a climbing net and two enclosed slides. (The larger slide was closed for maintenance on the day we visited.) This structure is best suited to children aged three years and above.

In addition, there are three swings (a baby swing, traditional style and bird’s nest style) and two wooden tepee-style structures, which our especially son enjoyed playing in. There are also several multicoloured wooden balancing beams and some big sandstone pieces and blocks to climb and jump from – a favourite activity for our little one! There is a decent-sized sandpit too.

A significant metal structure provides shade over the main parts of the playground, but of course hats and suncream are always advisable. On warm days, do check the metal slides are not too hot for sliding on.

There are numerous seats in the playground area from which parents and carers can supervise their kids and additional seating beyond the playground too. And there is a great pathway around the playground – ideal for walking, bike or scooter riding.

While the playground is not fenced, it is set well away from roads in a relatively enclosed area backed by a huge sandstone wall and with good visibility. There is both stair and ramp access to the playground, and a combination of rubber softfall, gravel mix, brick and concrete surfaces in the various parts. Beyond the playground there is a very spacious open grass area.
There are bubblers at the park but no toilet facilities, although these can be found over at Tramsheds, including a well-equipped parents’ room.
For those wishing to host a small gathering at the park, there are barbecues (two burners) and an undercover area with tables and chairs. (No doubt you’d need to get there early to secure a spot at the weekend.)
Overall, it was a highly enjoyable outing to Harold Park. If you’re planning a trip to this playground, we’d recommend bringing hats and suncream, a bucket and spade for the sandpit if visiting with young children, and perhaps also picnic supplies.

Reviewed by Lisa Giurissevich

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