Jackadder Lake Playground, Woodlands

Jackadder Lake Playground is a picturesque park just north west of the city. This lovely lakeside spot features a shaded children’s playground, exercise equipment and paths perfect for bikes and scooters. 

As of the beginning of August 2023, the playground has been refreshed with new climbing equipment, a new and improved juniors area, and new picnic facilities. 

Miss 9 was excited to check out the new play equipment. Gone is the crumbling soft fall rubber, and in place there is soft white sand. In place of the old stained slide, there is now a longer colourful tube slide. There are now two different kinds of monkey bars to swing on, a balancing bridge, balancing ropes and a cage of climbing ropes up to the new slide. 

To access the slide now, children need to climb ropes, either via rope ladders, a rope web or shimmying up a rope to get to the top platform. Alternatively, there is a small wooden ladder for smaller children.

Miss 9 enjoyed the rope climbing challenges. She also loved the new monkey bars. There is one made up of hanging handles, and the other is a regular style monkey bars. 

In the sand, there are new balancing logs and soft fall rubber humps to hop across. These are loved by kids of all ages. Kids also seemed to enjoy playing with sand toys in this area of the main playground. 

For smaller kids, there is a pair of smaller slides and a smaller rope ladder for climbing. The lower level includes a shop front for imaginative play and a tic tac toe game. Miss 9 also likes the picture matching flip game further down the ramps and bridges. These have been chosen to reflect the wildlife that lives within the reserve. 

The new juniors section has a play house with activities around the outside. For example, activities such as a glockenspiel and a steering wheel for imaginative play. There’s new spring rockers. One is for an individual child, while the second one is big en0ugh that several tots can hop on and play together.

There are new swings in this area too. Miss 9 loved the birds nest swing, flopping back in it to relax like it was a hammock. There are also regular swings as well. These were very popular. I don’t think we saw the swings empty the whole time we visited. 

The junior area has a mix of soft white sand and soft fall rubber as a base. So, which the sand in mind, you could pack a bunch of sand toys and trucks for the kids to dig and make roads in addition to playing on the equipment. 

Linking the two play areas, there is a colourful display on cables above the path. The balls used in this appear to be plastic balls recycled from the old playground. I like these pops of colour against all the green in the park. They remind me of colourful lanterns. 

In addition to updating the playground, the City has added some new covered picnic tables adjacent to the play areas. These have lovely metal work in the top reflecting the wildlife that inhabits the park, which is also a wetland reserve. The toilets and the larger existing undercover picnic area have also had new paintings done. These feature the New Holland Honeyeater and the Long Necked Turtle. 

The covered areas make great spaces for kids birthday parties or family get togethers. We actually used the larger space for Miss 9’s birthday last year, and it was great for celebrating a late-Autumn birthday, when you just don’t know if it’s going to rain or not. 

We also enjoyed a short walk during one of our visits to Jackadder Lake Playground (we have been three times now!). Miss 9 enjoyed stopping to discover the difference exercise equipment dotted around the lake. The pathways have all been linked up right the way around the lake now, and some of the exercise equipment has been replaced. For example, we found a new stationary bike and a elliptical trainer. So there are more opportunities to get out there and work on your fitness with or without the kids in tow. 

During our walk, we heard frogs singing at the Lake’s edge. Listen out for the “pobblebonk” sound. It is likely the Western Banjo Frog. In a similar vein to updating the play areas, the City has ensured there are turtle nesting and wildlife refuge areas preserved in the park, which is always important. We saw lots of birds flying around as well as living on the lake too, including Black Swans. 

With the lake in mind, if your child is a runner like mine used to be, you will need to keep an eye on them. The park is not fence off from the open water. Likewise with the pathways. Both people on bikes and scooters, as well as people walking dogs, use the paths. No one wants trip over anyone else. 

On arriving for a visit, we were happy to see there is lots of parking. There is designated, sealed parking areas, but City of Stirling has also had the foresight to add overflow parking along the playground side of the park. 

Likewise, we appreciate that shade sails cover most of the play areas. We’d still take hats and sunscreen, of course. However, we hope the shade sails will help keep the play equipment cooler during the summer months. 

Overall, we like the Jackadder Lake Playground update. The City seems to have met many of the locals wishes. They’ve been respectful of the local wildlife, as well as keeping it fun and colourful for children. A lot of the play equipment is similar, but it’s now newer and will last longer. It also feels like there has been better use made of the available space. As said earlier, we’ve been three times since the playground reopened, including for a family barbeque, and it’s a lovely, relaxing space to spend time in. 

Jackadder Lake Playground, Woodlands 

Located Jackadder Way, Woodlands, behind the Innaloo Cinemas. 

Parking is available along Jackadder Way, Birdwood Avenue and Rosewood Avenue, but the best parking for the playground is along Jackadder Way. 

If you find yourself in need of refreshments during your visit, Three Sheets on the Lake and Bada Bing Cafe are within walking distance in Birdwood Avenue. Otherwise, bring down a picnic or pick up some goodies on the way for a picnic in the park.