Traditional Play Equipment

As of June 2020, Rutter Park has undergone an upgrade. The park now features shiny new traditional play equipment in addition to the delightful nature play area.

The first things we noticed were all the opportunities to climb that have been included. The new traditional equipment features climbing walls, rope ladders, a chain ladder and a rope bridge. There are two slides, a smaller straight one for smaller children and a taller twisty slide for more adventurous kids.

Adjacent to the large play structure, there is a smaller climbing cube. This is packed with climbing ladders, a rope web, balancing platforms and rope monkey bars to swing from. This was a big hit with Miss 6!

There is also a separate free-standing spring rocker with two seats in the sand pit, and two swings, both a toddler swing and a regular swing.

In the surrounding sand, we found a spinning spiral climbing net and a seesaw rocker. Miss 6 had fun teaming up with other kids at the park to play on these.

Adjacent to these we found three swings, a birds nest swing, a regular swing and a toddler swing. Always a hit with kids of all ages!

The playground currently isn’t covered by shade sails. However, the poles are still in place for the council to reinstall these for summertime. The surrounding tall trees also provide extra shade.

Adjacent to the playground is a picnic area with three metal tables and a barbecue with two hot plates. Wooden tables stand nearby under some trees, and another barbecue stands in the nearby grassed area.

Beyond be picnic area you will find a flying fox. This is similar in size to the one at Braithwaite Park, maybe a little shorter.

This flying fox has two seats. One seat is a pommel seat, while the other one has a safety harness, making it perfect for smaller riders or those with mobility issues. Miss 6 loves it, as did the many other children at the park that day.

Nature Play

Rutter Park also features at wonderful nature play area on it’s western side.

Under the shade of large trees, there is a bridge with a tunnel to crawl through. Bright earth-based murals by local group Cambridge Youth Network decorate the walls of the tunnel. Miss 6 finds these fascinating. They made a great talking point.

Surrounding the bridge are a number of balancing logs and ropes. The thick ropes with a large metal loop attaching to a log appear to be recycled materials. Miss 6 loved climbing and balancing on these.

Also on the western side of the playground, logs lead up to a platform overlooking the rest of the playground. It’s an excellent view and I could imagine pretending to play at being on pirate ship or a castle. Its a great spot for smaller children to practice balancing and climbing steps.

If the kids are wearing you out, there is a  bench seat made out of logs and benches dotted around. Similarly, there’s logs and rocks are dotted around to climb over or to use as steps that could be used as seating also.

The nature play equipment consists mainly of recycled materials. Where possible, these items have been sourced from within the local community. The ground in this area has a carpet of thick soft wood chips and gravel.

The nature play area at Rutter Park is sure to encourage lots of imaginative and adventurous play.

There is a large open grassy area if the kids just need to run for instance. This is perfect for ball games or playing with your dog. The park is a dog exercise area with on leash time restrictions between 8am and 6pm. We have seen ladies practicing tai chi together on the grass and families bringing down workout equipment. It’s a versatile space.

There are also works of art in the park. For example, one is a ring-shaped lime stone sculpture. The locals call it ‘The Hand of Eternity’, though it was never actually named. You can read it’s story here.

The other is a brick armchair and lamp. This is called ‘Comfort Zone’, and was created by Western Australian artist Stuart Elliot. Each brick in the chair has a leaf print imprinted. It looks like a living room outdoors. Miss 6 thought this was brilliant.

To sum up, Rutter Park is a great park for kids toddler age and up. There’s lots to keep children busy and, with it’s large barbecue area, would be great for outdoor birthday parties or family picnics. Likewise, Rutter Park would be a great spot to stop for a play before or after a visit to Little Herberts.

If for instance you find yourself in need of refreshment during your visit, Rutter Park is a block from the shops and cafes on nearby Cambridge Street.

Toilets are available at the nearby Wembley Community Centre on the other side of the park.

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