Brookside Park

Brookside Park sits between Brookside and Dunns Crossing Roads in Rolleston South, a medium sized reserve that has become an unusual double life: a straightforward neighbourhood playground by day, and one of the district's informal radio control flying fields on quieter evenings.

Equipment

The playground is built around a small junior multi-play structure with a slide, swings including an infant seat, balance logs, a spring loaded see-saw and spinners, plus a confidence course, a half basketball court and a large open grassy area to run around in. Council records also list modular play pieces, extra spinners and a dedicated swing set on site, all set on bark surfacing since around 2012. Thirty two benches, seven seats, several bike racks and rubbish bins are spread through the wider reserve for anyone settling in for a while.

History and Cultural

Beyond the playground, Brookside Park does double duty as a cricket and soccer ground through the seasons, and its cricket pitches have quietly become a favourite with the informal Parkflyers Selwyn network of radio control model plane pilots, who count at least eight regular flyers using the field. The narrow pitches work best as runways in prevailing north east or south west winds, and the park's floodlights even make evening flying possible with small ultra micro planes without clashing with sports training. Under Selwyn District bylaws, electric models under one kilogram are permitted within park boundaries provided they do not bother other users.

Practical Info

Off street parking is available on site, along with a drinking fountain and picnic tables for families settling in for the afternoon. Selwyn District Council asks visitors not to smoke in the park, in line with its wider outdoor smokefree request across playgrounds, parks and sports grounds.