By David Jenkins
You don’t really “get” playgrounds until you become a parent. Honestly, I never thought twice about it, but when you have two active four-year-olds, suddenly, playgrounds become one of the most essential things in my weekend survival kit.
And every parent knows the feeling: that moment when you arrive at a great park and think, thank goodness… they’re entertained, they’re happy, and I might even get to drink a coffee while it’s still hot.
Recently, I took the kids to the Boongaree Rotary Nature Play Park in Berry, NSW. A fantastic project jointly undertaken by Shoalhaven City Council and Rotary. If you haven’t been, it’s incredible.
What blew me away wasn’t just how big it was, but how many different ages and abilities could jump in and play. One minute the kids are climbing, then they’re exploring the water play area, then they’re flying down a slide I’m too old for.
But what I really noticed was the atmosphere: families outside, kids running around, strangers chatting, and grandparents joining in. These spaces create community without even trying.
And that’s the thing: you can’t put a price on what parks like this give us.
Fresh air.
Activity.
A break from screens.
Connection.
A place to just be.
This is a shout-out to all our members who design, build, and maintain these parks and playgrounds. You don’t just preserve facilities; you’re giving families like mine places that are honestly priceless.
And on behalf of every parent trying to survive a Saturday morning…
Thank you.
