Thompson Street Playground

Thompson Street Playground in Leamington, Cambridge, was rebuilt from the ground up after the local community lobbied Waipa District Council to replace a worn out site, reopening at the end of 2021 with an emphasis on natural materials and equipment for a wide age range.

Equipment

Stepping logs, stilt logs and recycled balance logs form a forest of poles to climb through, alongside swings with infant and basket options, a flying fox, a rope swing, and a timber play tower with a net climber and a triple rail slide. A second structure has an embankment slide, and the original flying fox and see-saw from the earlier playground were kept. The Waipa District asset register separately lists a see-saw on site.

Access and Inclusion

Surfaces are artificial turf and bark chip, and a sealed loop track with smooth curves and roll-over mounds runs through the site for scooters and skateboards, connecting to the Cambridge town belt walking tracks.

Practical Info

A community orchard planted with feijoa and plum trees lines part of the reserve, and a shade sail covers the picnic table. On street parking is available on Thompson Street, and the site is registered as an in use Waipa District Council playground asset with a smokefree policy in place.