Cloverlea Park Playground

Cloverlea Park Playground is a nature themed wooden playground in Cloverlea, Palmerston North, opened in 2023 after a full redesign replacing the site's older equipment. A 30 metre flying fox and a four bay inclusive basket swing make it one of the city's stronger playgrounds for mixed age and mixed ability groups.

Equipment

The flying fox seat suits all ages, and the basket swing fits up to five children alongside standard swing seats. A larger wooden treehouse and adventure course includes a slide and log bridge, while a compact toddler structure has a shop front, interactive panels, a tunnel and a slide. A rockwall fitness station and an accessible carousel, relocated from Memorial Park, round out the equipment. Rocks, stepping logs and native plantings are woven through the formal equipment.

Access and Inclusion

The redesign prioritised inclusive play, with the four bay basket swing accommodating children of different abilities and accessible concrete paths running to all play areas. Mature trees provide natural cover over parts of the site.

History and Cultural

The redesign followed community consultation calling for more natural, wooden play equipment, and made use of the site's natural slope and mature tree cover. The playground was supplied by Playground Centre.

Practical Info

The park is a 2.02 hectare reserve on Benmore Avenue, with a drinking fountain, picnic tables and on-street parking.