Ridge Park and Playground Byford

Tucked within the leafy Byford on the Scarp estate, Ridge Park Byford stretches over 1.7 hectares and feels wonderfully “bushy” despite being in the suburbs. Mature trees, big open lawns and two separate Playground areas make this a great destination for families with kids of different ages, especially if you’ve got both little toddlers and more adventurous big kids to keep happy.

The lower Playground, accessed from Military Pass, is ideal for younger children. The centrepiece is an adorable train-themed play structure made up of several “carriages”, each with its own style of imaginative play.

Toddlers can “drive” the train or crawl through a small tunnel in the first section, before making their way through the passenger carriage and the “circus car”, which is packed with fun sensory bits and pieces to poke, spin and explore.

The final carriage is an open dining car with a little table and seats – perfect for pretend picnics and tea parties.

Beside the train there’s a small climbing structure with a slide. With a bit of help, even very young children can tackle the swinging steps to the top, while older siblings will enjoy testing themselves on the rope net, mini rock wall and tunnel.

A pod swing offers a cosy spot for children who prefer a gentler, secure swing.

The whole area blends in with the natural surroundings thanks to a woodchip surface and simple nature play elements like stepping logs, a narrow bridge and a concrete tunnel.

There are several picnic benches here, and the combination of shade sails and natural tree cover makes it comfortable even on warmer days. The Playground looks out onto a large grassy area, with more seating tucked under a big, shady tree, giving plenty of room for ball games, bubbles and running around.

From here, it’s an easy bike or scooter ride along the paths up to the nature Playground, which is better suited to older or more confident kids. There isn’t a huge amount for toddlers in this upper area, but primary-aged children will absolutely love the more adventurous equipment.

The double flying fox is a big drawcard, with one pommel seat and an all-abilities harness seat so younger or less confident children can join in the fun. It’s perfect for races, giggles and repeat turns.

A tall wooden lookout structure encourages climbing, with a rope net, ladder and rock climbing wall featuring cute, animal-shaped handholds. There isn’t a lot of play value once you’re at the top, but kids still enjoy the sense of achievement of reaching the platform and whizzing back down via the fireman’s pole.

Under the trees nearby you’ll find more stepping logs and a pair of concrete slides set into the slope, adding to the park’s natural feel and giving kids new ways to explore the landscape.

The upper Playground also includes a sandpit area dotted with more stepping logs and a traditional swing set. Just outside the sandpit there’s a tripod swing, which is great for group play and shared swinging.

This section of Ridge Park Byford is better equipped for longer stays, with shaded BBQs, picnic tables and extra seating, plus a drinking fountain that includes a low pet attachment so you can easily bring the family dog along.

One important thing to note is that there are currently no toilet facilities at Ridge Park, so you’ll need to plan ahead and factor that into how long you stay.

Overall, Ridge Park and Playground in Byford is a lovely, spacious community park that offers a bit of everything – imaginative toddler play, more challenging climbing and flying fox adventures for older kids, shaded picnic spots, and room to ride and roam. With its bushy feel and thoughtful touches like the edible garden and all-abilities harness swing, it’s well worth a visit if you’re in the Byford area or looking to explore new Playgrounds in Perth’s south-east suburbs.

Ridge Park and Playground Byford

Address: Military Pass & Clondyke Drive, Byford, WA 6122

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