Church Street Reserve in South Windsor has a unique, inclusive play space, with elements reflecting the local indigenous cultures, the community and the history of the Windsor area. The playground has sand and water play, swings, flying fox, toilets, picnic shelters and more. And has that special something, which makes the drive worth it for families with young kids. Particularly if you make of a day of it and visit other fun places near Windsor.
The nature play area has a water pump, long ‘riverbed’ water channel, rocks and a large sandpit. It was designed to reflect Rickaby’s Creek that meanders through South Windsor.
The kids absolutely loved this area. They took turns pumping the water, used sticks to create different paths for the water to take and raced leaves.
The water flows into the large sandpit where they built hills, dams, moats and rivers.
Depending on how adventurous your little one is, having a spare change of clothes for the drive home might be a good idea (particularly in winter!).
Within the playground, you’ll also find:
- Flying fox – one sit on circular style and one harnessed all abilities seat, side by side.
- Four Swings – harnessed full seat all abilities swing, baby swing, child swing and a flat swing.
- The ‘Old Town Square’, with Church ruins, Yarning Circle and shop fronts, show the coming together and the strength of community in the Windsor area. Children might not understand the significance but parents and carers will thoroughly enjoy these. It might open up some great conversations too.
- Climbing cube with rope climbing up the side and across the top, panels with cut-outs at each end, handles, bar step ups and a middle netting level.
- Merry-Go-Round, suitable for kids of all abilities.
We really enjoyed the imaginative town square play area, particularly the Post Office and Shop. The shop even has a ‘shopping list’ of fun things to find around the playground. Many of the items to spot are small metal sculptures of local fauna.
Church Street Reserve has been landscaped really nicely with a combination of softfall, dirt bark, concrete paths, brick pavers, pebblecrete, pavers and plants growing between the different areas.
There are lots of rocks throughout the play areas for balancing and climbing. Concrete paths and firm softfall paths ensure that wheelchairs can reach every area.
As well as the all inclusive and nature play areas, there are also toilets, bench seats, picnic shelters and large grassy areas surrounding the play areas.
There’s natural shade over some parts, but it will get hot in summer – particularly the swings and flying fox.
Finding Church Street Reserve
If you’re a local, you can find it opposite the YMCA Oasis Pools and Gym (Hawkesbury Oasis Aquatic and Recreation Centre). For the rest of us, it’s about a 40min drive north-west from Parramatta. And found near the end of Church Street in South Windsor. There’s plenty of on-site parking.
Places of Interest Nearby
We visited the new playground at Church Street Reserve on our way back from picking oranges and mandarins at Anderson Farm.
But you could also combine it with a visit to Windsor town centre and stepping back in time at Australiana Pioneer Village. Or:
- Governor Phillip Park
- Howe Park, cycle/walk path along Hawkesbury River
- Macquarie Park
- Schofields Orange Orchard – farm gate sale of oranges
