Thorrington Reserve Playground

Thorrington Reserve Playground is a small, low-key neighbourhood playground in Cashmere, Christchurch, pitched at toddlers and preschoolers rather than adventurous older kids. It sits under big trees at the eastern end of the reserve, right beside a sealed path.

Equipment

One modular play unit does most of the work. The council's asset register lists timber decks joined by steps and a ladder, a steering wheel, porthole panels, a fireman's pole and a curved steel climbing arch, with a separate spring rocker alongside.¹ Council asset photos taken in 2008 also show a short pink slide off one deck and a green frog rocker.¹ The decks are low and railed, which suits climbers of about two to six. There are no swings, so a swing-mad toddler will be happier elsewhere.

Practical Info

The play area is a single bed of woodchip, about 104 square metres, edged in timber,² and the council lists a park seat close by.³ It is not fenced and the path runs past one edge, so keep an eye on runners. Reviews are lukewarm: one former local remembers it as a childhood favourite but found little for an adventurous toddler, and another says it could do with a revamp and repair. Remuera Reserve Playground, about half a kilometre away, makes an easy second stop.

History and Cultural

Thorrington was the name Charles Clark gave to the land he bought in 1862 between the Heathcote River, Colombo Street and Cashmere Road, and the Clark family kept it until 1979.⁴ The neighbouring Ernle Clark Reserve, a strip of riverside woodland with century-old trees, honours his grandson, who flew solo from England to New Zealand in 1936, and a council newsletter once called it a magical picnic spot in summer.⁵