Best BBQ and picnic parks in The Ponds
Lakes Edge Park is the top pick for a barbecue in The Ponds, with BBQs, picnic shelters, toilets and a flat green area by the lake. The other picks differ in what they offer: Owl Park has a covered picnic area, Silverleaf Park has two electric BBQs under cover, and Ridgeline Park and Riverbank Park each pair a barbecue with a playground.
Quick picks
- Most complete: Lakes Edge Park combines BBQs, picnic shelters, toilets and street parking in one place.
- Covered picnic: Owl Park's covered area and sheltered benches suit a lunch in wet or sunny weather.
- Shaded family cookout: Ridgeline Park has a public barbecue, picnic shelters and shade over its play area.
- Electric BBQs under cover: Silverleaf Park's two electric BBQs sit beneath a shelter, so no gas gear is needed.
Lakes Edge Park for a barbecue with shelters and toilets
- BBQs
- Covered shelter
- Toilets
- Playground
- Parking
Lakes Edge Park is the most complete barbecue stop in The Ponds. A flat green area holds the BBQs and several picnic shelters, so a group can cook and eat out of the weather. The public and accessible toilets are across the lake, a fair walk from the play area, so plan the route. Shaded seating for adults and a shade sail over the toddler equipment help on hot days.
Best for: Families planning a long barbecue lunch with shelters and toilets
Owl Park for a covered picnic beside a small playground
- Covered shelter
- Picnic tables
- Playground
- Parking
Owl Park is the pick for a covered picnic in The Ponds. The covered area is where the picnic goes, and several benches have shelter overhead, which helps when the weather turns. The playground is made for little kids, with a very small slide and a small play area, and the compact layout means a parent can watch from a bench. Parking is convenient, so a quick stop is simple. The bushland path is a gentle stroll once the picnic is done.
Best for: Families with little kids who want a covered picnic close to home
Ridgeline Park for a family barbecue and a playground visit
- BBQs
- Covered shelter
- Picnic tables
- Playground
Ridgeline Park is the pick for a family barbecue with a playground in the same park. The public barbecue sits with tables, seating and picnic shelters, so a group can cook and sit under cover. Shade covers the play area, and shaded seating sits near the tables, so the afternoon can stretch on warm days. Its toddler-friendly playground has a slide, a zipline and a climbing wall, and a water fountain is there for children to refill their bottles.
Best for: Families who want a shady cookout with toddler play gear in the same park
Silverleaf Park for electric BBQs under a shelter
- BBQs
- Covered shelter
- Picnic tables
- Playground
Silverleaf Park is the place to cook without bringing gas gear in The Ponds. Its two electric BBQs sit beneath a shelter, with tables alongside, so a family can cook and eat in one spot. Groups have shelters and tables to eat at, and the shade there keeps the meal comfortable. A playground sits in the same park, so the kids can run off lunch. There's a walking path too, for a stroll after lunch.
Best for: Families who want to cook without bringing gas gear
Riverbank Park for an electric BBQ beside the playground
- BBQs
- Picnic tables
- Playground
- Parking
Riverbank Park is the pick for a barbecue beside the playground. A single electric BBQ and one picnic table are the cooking and eating spots, with benches around them. Toddlers and bigger kids both get a turn on the merry-go-round and the rock climb. The play equipment gets no shade, so an early start helps on warm days. The park has no toilets of its own, so a long picnic needs a stop elsewhere.
Best for: Families with toddlers and older kids who want a barbecue by the playground
How the parks compare
By area
Every BBQ and picnic park in and near The Ponds
Details for every park in and just beyond The Ponds sit together in a table, with gaps shown as dashes.
| Park | BBQs | Shelter | Tables | Toilets | Playground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1.Lakes Edge Park | ✓ | ✓ | – | ✓ | ✓ |
| 2.Owl Park | – | ✓ | ✓ | – | ✓ |
| 3.Ridgeline Park | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | – | ✓ |
| 4.Silverleaf Park | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | – | ✓ |
| 5.Riverbank Park | ✓ | – | ✓ | ✗ | ✓ |
| 6.Waterfall Park | ✓ | – | ✓ | – | ✓ |
| 7.Lorius Park | – | – | ✓ | – | ✓ |
| 8.The Gathering Park | – | – | ✓ | – | ✓ |
| Nearby, outside The Ponds | |||||
| Parklands Clubhouse · Stanhope Gardens | – | – | – | ✓ | ✓ |
| Paterson Reserve · Quakers Hill | – | – | – | – | ✓ |
| The Ponds Parklands · Quakers Hill | – | – | – | – | – |
| Reserve 620 · Stanhope Gardens | – | – | – | – | ✓ |
How we picked
Shelters, BBQs and toilets count most in the score, then playgrounds, picnic tables and parking, with a point for any park of at least one hectare. Each fact comes from a park's own page, and where a page is silent the table shows a dash, not a no. Six known details are needed before a park can be picked.
FAQ
Which parks in The Ponds have BBQs?
Silverleaf Park has two electric BBQs under a shelter, and Riverbank Park has one beside its playground. Lakes Edge Park and Ridgeline Park have barbecues too.
Are there toilets at the barbecue parks in The Ponds?
Lakes Edge Park has a public toilet and an accessible toilet, both across the lake. Riverbank Park does not have toilets on site.
Which park in The Ponds is a good spot for a covered picnic?
Owl Park is the clearest choice, with a covered picnic area and sheltered benches close by. Several of its benches have shelter overhead, so lunch works in wet or sunny weather.
Is there parking at Lakes Edge Park?
Lakes Edge Park has street parking on nearby streets, but the spaces fill up during the day. Arriving in the morning is the surest way to find one.