Fowlds Park

Fowlds Park's playground offers a busy variety of play towers, two open slides, and rope climbing sections on bark surfacing, all wrapped inside one of Mount Albert's most active sport-and-play reserves.

Equipment

The playground carries a variety of play towers with two open slides, bouncy spring toys, climbing bars and rope climbing sections, plus a swing set and basket swing on bark surfacing. It sits within easy reach of the park's sporting infrastructure: hybrid turf fields for rugby league and softball, and hard-surface courts for netball, basketball and tennis.

Access and Inclusion

On-street parking is the only option, but the park's flat, open layout keeps the walk from the street to the play equipment short. Eight fitness stations dotted around the park mean caregivers can combine a workout with supervising kids on the equipment, rather than choosing between the two.

History and Cultural

The land was originally an asylum endowment, transferred to the Mt Albert Domain Board in 1912 in exchange for council land next to the Avondale Mental Hospital, and known then as the Morningside Reserve. Used as a rubbish tip through the 1910s, it became an Auckland newspaper scandal in 1921 over the pests and smell it generated. The park opened properly on 2 March 1935, named for Sir George Fowlds, philanthropist and former Minister of Education, whose effort secured the land. The playground itself opened on 26 May 1928, predating the park's formal opening by seven years, and Mt Albert Rugby League Club has played these grounds since before the Second World War.

Practical Info

Onsite amenities include eight fitness stations, a barbecue, picnic tables and seating, and the park operates a smokefree policy. There is no cover for the play equipment at midday, though a seat and picnic table sit under trees nearby, so plan around that if visiting in the middle of a hot day.