Tucked away on Hillside Crescent in Maylands, De Lacey Reserve is a lovely, green neighbourhood park that offers a good mix of play equipment and open space for families. Close to the Peninsula Estate and just a short drive from the cafés of Eighth Avenue and Whatley Crescent, it’s an easy spot to combine with a coffee stop or treat.
The standout feature for many kids will be the flying fox. Launched from a small timber tower, the ride zips over a generous sandpit, giving a soft landing if anyone lets go on the way. Younger or smaller children may need a helping hand to pull the seat back up to the platform, so grown-ups should be prepared to join in the action too. Once they get going though, this is the kind of feature kids happily repeat again and again.
In a separate sandy area sits the main play structure. This multi-level fort includes two slides – a smaller single slide and a double slide where children can race, with one side straight and the other bumpy. A short tunnel links the slides, adding a bit of hide-and-seek or crawling fun. There’s also a mounted telescope on one of the platforms, perfect for little explorers to “spy” across the park and weave some imaginative play into their climbing.
A rope web connects the double slide platform to a set of monkey bars, creating a mini climbing circuit suited to confident climbers and school-aged kids. From here, platforms and steps lead around to the smaller slide, giving multiple ways up and down. Underneath the structure, a small wooden “shop front” invites pretend play – kids can set up a café, shop or ice-cream stand, especially if you bring along some props or snacks to extend the game.
Next to the main fort, still in the sand, is a bird’s nest swing. This style of swing is fantastic for a wide age range – toddlers can sit or lie down with help from an adult, while older kids can enjoy swinging solo or with a sibling or new friend. It’s a very social piece of play equipment and was clearly popular during our visit.
The Playground area is surrounded by mature trees which provide welcome natural shade at various times of day. Bench seats and a picnic table placed under the trees give carers a comfortable vantage point to watch the kids. Shade can vary depending on the season and time, so it’s still worth packing hats and sunscreen, especially on bright summer days. The Playground is not fenced; however, it’s set back from the road and the surrounding streets are generally quiet, making it feel more relaxed than many busier suburban parks.
Beyond the sand play areas, De Lacey Reserve opens out into wide grassed ovals. During our visit, families were walking their dogs, bigger kids were kicking a soccer ball, and there was plenty of room for picnics, frisbee, or simply running off energy. The reserve is equipped with a cricket pitch as well as soccer and football goals, making it a handy spot for casual training or weekend games.
There are also cricket practice nets located between the Playground and the car park, which older kids and teens might enjoy using for a bit of bowling or batting practice.
Practical facilities make De Lacey Reserve even more family-friendly. Off-street parking is available, and public toilets are located at the club rooms, which is always a big tick when you’re visiting with children. Being just a five-minute drive from the Peninsula Tea Rooms and the cafés of Eighth Avenue and Whatley Crescent, it’s easy to turn a Playground visit into a half-day outing – think park play followed by coffee, babycino or cake at popular spots like Sherbert or Steam Haus.
Overall, De Lacey Reserve is a great local park for toddlers through to primary-school aged children, with enough play variety and open space to keep everyone happy. The combination of flying fox, climbing challenges, slides, and open sporting fields makes it a versatile choice for families in and around Maylands looking for somewhere to play, picnic, or kick a ball.
De Lacey Reserve
Address: Hillside Crescent, Maylands, WA 6051 (off-street parking available)
Location
Member Reviews
Place Categories: Playgrounds, Near Cafes, With Toilets, and Best for Toddlers
