Sam's Playground at Warradale Park, Landsdale

Warradale Park in Landsdale is home to one of Perth’s most heartfelt and thoughtfully designed play spaces. The fully fenced nature Playground on Southmead Drive was created in memory of toddler Sam Trott and stands as a beautiful tribute to the community spirit that surrounded his family. The City of Wanneroo worked closely with Sam’s family and the Autism Association of Western Australia to design a space that celebrates play while being especially considerate of children’s sensory needs and inclusivity, making this much more than a standard suburban park. You can read more about the background of the project on the City’s official site here.

Sam’s Playground is ideal for toddlers and younger children, and a reassuring choice for parents of little runners thanks to its full fencing and single double‑gated entry.

Once inside, families find a lovely blend of traditional Playground favourites and nature‑based play. There are two slides, including a gentler double slide that’s perfect for younger kids, as well as a longer, faster slide with a fun bump halfway down that always gets a giggle.

Conventional swings, a sand digger and rockers help keep little ones busy with familiar, easy‑to-enjoy activities.

The Playground has been carefully landscaped to feel natural and welcoming. The main play area is sand‑based, with woodchips under the trees and plenty of logs, low limestone blocks and stepping stumps to clamber over and balance along. Children can climb a medium‑sized hill in several ways – via timber steps carved into a log, limestone block steps, wooden balancing steps or a grassy slope – before choosing which slide to zoom back down. It adds a real sense of adventure without being overwhelming for younger or less confident climbers.

There are some lovely imaginative and sensory touches throughout Sam’s Playground. A pretend “bus” area, with vertical panels suggesting windows, steering wheels to drive and rows of log seats for passengers, invites role play and social games.

Budding musicians can experiment with a hand drum and a small wooden marimba that produces gentle, tuneful sounds rather than loud clanging, which is a thoughtful inclusion for children with sensory sensitivities.

The sand and water play zone is another highlight: a push‑button water pump sends a small stream of water into a large sandpit, perfect for mixing, pouring and building. Excess water is cleverly directed down a gentle slope to irrigate nearby native plants, tying play into the surrounding landscape.

Sam’s Playground offers a few practical comforts for families. There are three picnic tables with benches inside the fenced area, plus additional bench seating, logs and low walls that double as perches while the kids play. A drinking fountain is located near the entrance. There are no toilets on site as this is a local residential park, so it is worth planning ahead, particularly with toilet‑training toddlers.

Just beyond the fenced memorial Playground, Warradale Park has an impressive second rope and nature play area that suits more adventurous kids, generally from about three years and up. Set on a generous bed of woodchips, this space feels like an obstacle course built for energetic, climbing‑mad children. It features rope ladders and webbing structures to scale, plus various balance challenges.

A wobbly rope bridge with handrails is often an early favourite for younger visitors; nearby, two more challenging rope crossings without handrails give older kids and confident climbers the chance to push their balance and coordination further.

The standout feature in this section is the big double slide, reached by climbing a rope net up onto a concrete tunnel structure. The top platform is covered in soft astro turf, which is kinder on little knees as they scramble up, and the twin bumpy slides side‑by‑side add a bit of friendly sibling or friend competition.

There is also a rope “nest” for children to climb into and lounge in, plus balance beams and more logs to navigate, encouraging kids to test their gross motor skills in different ways.

Complementing the rope play are some extra pieces of equipment to keep a wide age range engaged. A plastic bird’s nest swing allows children to swing lying down or sitting together, which is especially nice for younger kids or those who prefer a more supported swinging experience.

Gymnastics‑style bars invite hanging, spinning and simple tricks, while a vertical pole with a circular handle at the top offers that classic “spin and swing off” fun that many parents will remember from their own childhoods. Paths and balancing logs continue across to the area near the tennis courts, giving kids plenty of room to roam and explore.

A concrete path winds around the fenced Playground and into the wider park, creating a loop that is handy for small bikes, scooters and ride‑ons. When the Playground is busy, especially after school and on weekends, it can be a bit tricky to zip around without weaving through other families, so younger riders may need a bit more supervision. The park backs on to Landsdale Primary School, and it is common to share the equipment with older children before or after school and during weekends. In general this creates a lively, community feel, though as always, some extra supervision around bigger kids is wise.

Overall, Warradale Park offers a fantastic combination of safe, contained play for toddlers and preschoolers at Sam’s Playground, plus a more challenging rope and nature play space for older primary‑aged children. The thoughtful design, including inclusive and sensory elements highlighted makes it a particularly good choice for families seeking an environment that caters to a range of abilities. 

Warradale Park, Landsdale

Address: Southmead Drive, Landsdale WA 6065
Official website: City of Wanneroo – Warradale Nature Play Area

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