John MacMillan Park, Victoria Park

Tucked behind the Victoria Park Library, John MacMillan Park is a brilliant little green hub that combines nature play, community events and plenty of open space. The park offers a welcoming mix of shady trees, clever play zones and amenities that make it easy for families to linger.

The nature Playground blends beautifully with the mature trees, using mostly wooden structures with both natural shade and shade sails overhead. The play areas are broken up into smaller “pockets” linked by pathways, so kids can wander from one activity to the next while adults keep an eye on them from nearby benches and seats. Much of the Playground is set on wood chips, with some soft-fall surfacing in the busier play zones.

One of the first things children gravitate towards is the creative play area, featuring two large chalkboards and a mud-kitchen style setup. The chalkboards are on soft-fall and, when stocked with chalk, are perfect for scribbling, games of noughts and crosses or practising letters and numbers. The mud kitchen invites imaginative play, with little ones busy “cooking” and “serving” to their heart’s content.

For climbing and sliding, there’s a compact structure with a cargo net and double slide that will keep younger primary-aged kids happy. Swing lovers are covered too, with both a toddler swing for the littlest visitors and a birds nest swing that can fit a few children at once or a parent and child together.

Scattered throughout the play space you’ll find a wooden teepee and brightly coloured totem-style poles, adding splashes of colour and giving kids more little nooks to explore and weave into their games.

A generous number of stepping logs creates an easy balance trail that many children will happily loop around again and again.

Beyond the Playground, John MacMillan Park opens out into a large expanse of lawn. This is ideal for running around, kicking a ball, setting up a picnic blanket or letting toddlers roam a bit more freely. The grassy space, combined with the play areas, makes the park feel like a true community backyard in the middle of East Vic Park.

A real standout feature is the public art piece “Portal”. This circular sculpture periodically releases a fine mist which is especially magical on warm days, when kids love racing in and out of the cool spray. In the evenings it also lights up, giving the park a gentle, atmospheric glow and making it a lovely spot to wander through after dinner.

For older kids and teens, or for families who like a bit of active play together, there’s a basketball hoop and a ping pong table alongside markings on the ground for various games. These harder-surface areas broaden the appeal of the park beyond the early years, and are great if you’ve got a mix of ages to entertain.

Practicalities are well thought out. Toilets are located conveniently behind the basketball area, and there is plenty of parking close by. The park is also home to a little free library, encouraging families to borrow and swap books during their visit, and of course it sits right next to the main Victoria Park Library for a bigger selection and regular kids’ activities.

John MacMillan Park’s location is one of its biggest perks. Being close to Park Centre shopping centre means you can easily combine a play with a quick grocery shop or a coffee stop. There are several coffee options and even an ice cream shop nearby, so grabbing a takeaway treat or sitting down for something more substantial before or after a play is simple. On Sundays, the vibrant Vic Park Markets are held in the park, transforming the whole area into a buzzing community space with stalls, food and live entertainment – a fun way to turn a regular park visit into a weekend outing.

With its mix of nature play, creative elements, sports facilities and generous green space, John MacMillan Park is a versatile spot that suits toddlers through to tweens. Whether you’re popping past after the shops, meeting friends for a picnic or visiting the library, it’s an easy, family-friendly stop in the heart of Victoria Park.

John MacMillan Park

Address: 27 Sussex St, East Victoria Park, WA 6101

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