Is this Canberra’s most spectacular park, ever? We’re calling it

Denman Village Park opens on Saturday, and having done the grand tour, we can attest that this park sets a new high bar for burning off youthful energy, in a place for which parents will thank their lucky stars.

In fact, you really need to see it for yourself to understand just how far we’ve come since a sticky metal slide dumped in a patch of tanbark constituted core childhood memories.

The astronomy-themed playground is so luxe,  design-worthy and fun, that Denman Village Park promises to draw entire generations of Canberra kids from near and far.

From the constellations carved into the roof of a giant eight-metre dome modelled on the nearby Mount Stromlo Observatory, to the rope swings which look like planets, to the moonscape sandpit (with a special secret* to be revealed once you dig to the bottom…) every effort has been made to engage kids in a stratospheric experience.

But this park not only caters for the young, it is a Godsend for parents, located next to a sizeable carpark and within just a few metres of a café (Two Before Ten), a family-friendly gastro pub (Denman Kitchen + Wine Bar), a supermarket and a whole host of other useful places such as a Capital Chemist, GPs, dentist, and Club Lime.

Grab your coffee and enjoy the sunshine with your toddler, bribe your kids into letting you shop for groceries with the promise of time at the park afterwards, or grab your mum’s group and relax over a meal and glass of wine at the end of a long day of play. Truly, the options are endless.

But back to the park. The dome incorporates multi-functional play features including climbable nets, ladders and walls. It includes a flying fox, a water play area, swings and a winding boardwalk from which to take it all in – all of it set on soft fall surfaces and fenced for safety.

Sausage sandwiches after a long play will be easy thanks to the park’s modern, shaded barbecue facilities that would frankly look right at home in an interiors magazine, with plenty of seats and tables for relaxing and eating.

And while on the topic of shade, the extensive consultation underpinning this venture called for plenty of it, so there are large shaded areas, pathways, and canopies to ensure no one needs to cook alongside their sausages.

There’s also a number of drinking fountains, bike racks and bins.

And the question we know you have all reached at this stage is what about the loos? All we will say is that the toilet block is inspired by the retro Canberra bus stop design of Clem Cummings. Only our bus stops don’t have skylights, intricate brickwork, or change tables, like this one.

Capital Estate Developments project manager Bridget Bence has overseen Stage 1 of the park, coordinating a raft of services to bring it all together just in time for warm weather play.

Work started in 2019 on the site at Cravens Creek and Bridget, who has a Bachelor of Planning and Development and a Masters in Project Management, came on board in 2021 following the birth of her first child.

“Yes! I have a vested interest in getting the park and open space amenities right!” she says.

“Now that I spend more time in parks with my own kids these days you certainly take note of what works well and what doesn’t work well – shade, easy parking, toilets, space to sit, and child safety are the obvious ones. Parks create special memories for kids and in a wider sense provide a place of gathering for people. They should be designed in a way that makes people feel safe, happy, whimsical.

“So much design, thought and vision has gone into designing the park and we really hope we got it right!”

Bridget believes the park will redefine public play spaces in Canberra with the vision and detailing being “bold and next-level”.

Its location within essential services and amenities will allow families to “plan a day out knowing that they don’t need to keep hopping back in the car to tick off other activities.”

And the craziest part? This is only half of the total story. Stage 2 is in the works and when completed, will include a multi-purpose court for basketball and futsal, cricket nets, an exercise station, a learn-to ride track, skate park, ponds, younger kid playground, public art and more parking and barbecue facilities.

If you’ve got kids (or even if you don’t) the Denman Village Playground launch will take place from 10.30 am to 2.30 pm on Saturday, 2 November, at Felstead Vista, with live entertainment, train rides, food trucks and space-themed fun. Expect to see Mr and Mrs Whippy, Phatboy Burgers, OMG Donuts and more.

* Hidden at the bottom of the sandpit are astronaut footprints. Look, we told you this was next level…

This article was originally published on HerCanberra.