Beckenham Park Playground

Beckenham Park playground in St Martins, Christchurch, is built around the Rocktopus, a spinning multi armed structure that younger children can clamber onto together and set in motion, the kind of collaborative play equipment increasingly common in upgraded council parks. It sits inside a medium sized play space within a five hectare southern Christchurch sports park, and suits ages three to ten particularly well.

Equipment

The playground sits on a bark surface and includes a balance beam, swings with an infant bay, a multi-play structure with a slide, the Rocktopus, and a separate multi-play climbing structure. The infant swing suits the youngest visitors, the slide is accessible with assistance for toddlers, and the Rocktopus and climbing structure handle the three to ten range particularly well. Seating is available on site.

Setting and surroundings

Beckenham Park straddles the boundary between Beckenham and St Martins, about six kilometres south of Christchurch's central city. Football fields and a cricket outfield run alongside the playground, and the Southern Districts Cricket Club and Beckenham Tennis Club are both based here, so weekend mornings during summer bring a lively mix of sport and family activity. The Heathcote River runs nearby and feeds the Beckenham Ponds, a short walk from the park entrance, a popular extension for families with slightly older children who enjoy a scooter friendly route with creek jumping and eel spotting.

Practical info

Public toilets and picnic tables are on site. On street parking is available on Palatine Terrace and Eastern Terrace, and the council's smokefree and vape free policy applies across the playground. The park is not comprehensively fenced, so toddlers with a tendency to wander need active watching.