Best playgrounds in Kensington
Kokoda Memorial Park is the top pick for a Kensington playground, because its two fenced play areas sit among large shade trees. Fitzpatrick Park suits a visit with a BBQ, and Wills Reserve has a shade sail over a fenced playground. Most playgrounds here are fully fenced, so the choice comes down to your kids' ages and what else you want from the park.
Quick picks
- Shade and two play areas: Kokoda Memorial Park, with shade trees over both of its fenced playgrounds.
- A BBQ in the same park: Fitzpatrick Park, with a fully fenced play area and BBQ facilities on site.
- Shade sail and a bike track: Wills Reserve, with a fully fenced playground under a shade sail, plus a small bicycle track.
Kokoda Memorial Park: shade over two fenced play areas
- Fully fenced
- Shade
- Parking
- Accessible play
Kokoda Memorial Park has shade over its play areas, which matters on a hot day. The fenced playground sits among large shade trees and shade structures, and a separate fenced junior playground is there too. Little ones can slide, swing and climb through a tunnel, and older children have a rope frame. The 2021 upgrade added inclusive and sensory play equipment and new soft fall. The park has no toilet block and no BBQ, so plan a stop on Anzac Parade first. On-street parking sits directly beside the park, in a quiet side street off Anzac Parade.
Best for: Families with toddlers and older kids who want shade and fencing, and can plan a toilet stop nearby
Fitzpatrick Park: a fenced play area and a BBQ
- Fully fenced
- Shade
- BBQ
Fitzpatrick Park is the pick for a playground with a BBQ in the same park, which Kokoda Memorial Park can't offer. Behind the fence, kids find two slides, tunnels and swings on rubber softfall. The fence keeps young children in a contained space, and large mature trees and a shade structure cover the play area. The 303 bus stops right beside the park, if you'd rather not drive.
Best for: Parents of young children who want a fenced play area and a BBQ in the same park
Wills Reserve: a shade sail over a fenced playground
- Fully fenced
- Shade
- Parking
Wills Reserve is the pick for shade over the playground itself, since a sail covers it rather than trees. The playground is fully fenced and has a carousel, a seesaw and swings with a toddler seat, plus interactive play equipment. You can park on the street beside it. The grassed area sits below Balfour Street, and a small bicycle track is in the park too.
Best for: Parents of toddlers who want a covered, fenced play area with street parking at the park
How the playgrounds compare
By area
Every playground in and near Kensington
The grid below sets each playground's facilities side by side, with the nearby parks at the bottom.
| Park | Fenced | Shade | Toilets | BBQ | Parking |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1.Kokoda Memorial Park | ✓ | ✓ | ✗ | ✗ | ✓ |
| 2.Fitzpatrick Park | ✓ | ✓ | – | ✓ | – |
| 3.Wills Reserve | ✓ | ✓ | – | – | ✓ |
| 4.Kensington Park | – | – | – | – | ✓ |
| Nearby, outside Kensington | |||||
| Alison Park · Randwick | ✓ | – | ✓ | ✓ | – |
| Shaw Reserve · Kingsford | ✓ | – | – | – | ✓ |
| Writtle Park · Randwick | ✓ | – | – | – | – |
| Haig Park · Daceyville | – | – | – | – | – |
How we picked
We picked the playgrounds on what young families need most: fencing, shade, toilets, BBQs, accessible play and size. Where a playground's details run out, the table shows a dash, which costs it nothing. Kensington Park has too few details on its playground to pick it, so it's in the table only.
FAQ
Is there a fenced playground in Kensington?
Fitzpatrick Park's play area is fully fenced, and Wills Reserve's playground is too. Kokoda Memorial Park is fenced as well, with a separate junior playground behind its own fence.
Are there toilets at the Kensington playgrounds?
Kokoda Memorial Park has no toilet block, and no toilets are recorded for Fitzpatrick Park or Wills Reserve. The nearest cafes are back on Anzac Parade.
Where can I cook a BBQ near a Kensington playground?
Fitzpatrick Park has BBQ facilities in the park, and it's the only playground here with one on record. No BBQ is listed for Kokoda Memorial Park.
Which Kensington playground suits toddlers?
Kokoda Memorial Park's playground suits both toddlers and school-aged children, with a small slide and tunnel for the little ones. Fitzpatrick Park's play area is aimed at young children, and its full fence keeps them contained. Wills Reserve also has swings with a toddler seat.