Dick Lawrence Oval Playground in Beaconsfield is a welcoming, leafy community space that’s ideal for families with children of different ages. The centrepiece of the Playground is a striking three-level treehouse-style cubby, complete with a twisty slide and a smaller dual flat slide. Kids can reach the cubby via a ramp, a through-the-floor ladder, a timber climbing wall and a rock-climbing wall, so there are options suited to both cautious climbers and confident adventurers.
In the middle of the Playground there’s a large timber climber featuring a cargo rope ladder, balancing logs and climbing ramps along the side, giving kids plenty of ways to climb, balance and explore.
The overall design leans strongly towards nature play. You’ll find a sand play table with a pulley system, balancing beam steppers, timber logs and boulders dotted through the area.
An accessible birds nest swing on a matting surface allows younger children and those with mobility needs to enjoy a comfortable, secure swing.
There are some lovely little extras to keep children engaged, including an outdoor xylophone for music play and a sensory board located on the first floor of the cubby house. These features work well for toddlers and younger children, while older kids tend to gravitate towards the higher climbing elements and fast slide.
The Playground sits alongside the Brad Hardie Sporting Complex and Dick Lawrence Active Reserve (also known as Hilton Park), which is regularly used for football and cricket.
The wider reserve offers plenty of open space for a kick of the footy or a game of chasey, and it’s also home to a flying disc (disc golf) course that loops around the oval. There are nine baskets in total, clearly set out with tee signs for each hole and a mainboard at tee #1 showing the map and rules of the game, so families can easily give disc golf a go even if they’ve never played before.
Large established trees provide excellent natural shade over parts of the Playground and surrounding reserve, helping to keep it cooler on warm days. The gardens are planted with natives and there are bench seats and picnic tables nearby, making it a pleasant spot to sit while the kids play or to enjoy a simple picnic. The City of Fremantle lists accessible toilets, seating and change rooms at Dick Lawrence Active Reserve, which adds to the practicality of visiting with children.
Toilets are available on site. The Brad Hardie Sporting Complex has toilets which may not always be open, but there are additional public toilets and a water fountain on the opposite side of the oval near the half basketball court. Parking next to the Playground is via a small car park, and there is extra verge parking along Lefroy Road if the main bays are busy.
Beyond casual family visits, Dick Lawrence Active Reserve is bookable for sporting groups, personal trainers, schools and community events via SpacetoCo, and the Brad Hardie pavilion and clubrooms can be booked separately if you require change rooms or indoor facilities. This makes the location useful not only as an everyday Playground but also as a venue for organised activities.
With its combination of nature play, climbing challenges, sensory elements, disc golf and sporting facilities, Dick Lawrence Oval Playground is a great option for families looking to spend a few hours outdoors in a relaxed, community-focused setting.
Dick Lawrence Active Reserve (Hilton Reserve / Dick Lawrence Oval Playground)
Address: Hilton Reserve, Shepherd Street, Beaconsfield WA 6162
Opening hours: Public reserve – generally open daily; pavilion, change rooms and clubrooms by booking
Official website: City of Fremantle – Dick Lawrence Active Reserve (Hilton Park)
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Place Categories: All Abilities, Nature, Playgrounds, and With Toilets
