Livvi’s Place Five Dock is, quite simply, one of the very best playgrounds in the entire Sydney metropolitan area. This park and its excellent all abilities playground makes a great day out and is a fantastic place to meet up with groups of friends and family.
Opened in 2009 and then updated in 2016, Livvi’s Place Five Dock was a ground-breaking playground for Australia, and it’s as popular today as it was when it first opened.
If you have a child with special needs, you will feel at home in this playground and in very good company. As will your typically developing kids too.
The Touched By Olivia Foundation
The Touched by Olivia Foundation was established in 2006 by John and Justine Perkins in memory of their baby daughter who had died at just a few months of age.
The Foundation partners with councils and community groups to create all abilities playgrounds where all members of the community, young and old, able and with special needs, can come together to play side-by-side.
What Are Inclusive Playspaces?
Inclusive playspaces aim to cater for all members of the community, including those with vision, hearing and mobility impairments, as well as people with autism spectrum disorder.
There should be colour and textural changes in the playground, musical sculptures that create vibration as well as sound. There should be equipment which can be used by adults alongside the children, such as the birds nest swing, the bull riders and the motorised roundabout.
Livvi’s Place Five Dock
Address: Timbrell Park, Henly Marine Drive, Five Dock
This is a very large playground indeed, with plenty of space amongst the play equipment and with a lovely quiet bushy area too.
Timbrell Park is very large and flat with huge grassy spaces for playing ball games, and lots of paths for bikes and trikes.
You can see the equipment in all of the photos I have added to this article, but here’s a handy list too:
- Seating
- Inclusive playspace
- Artwork/sculpture
- Livvi’s Cafe
- Snakes and ladders path
- Fenced
- Wheelchair accessible
- Picnic tables
- Synthetic softball
- Swings
- Jungle gym
- Rope climb
- Natural shade
- Rubbish bin
- Bike track
- Toilets
- Shade structure
- Bubbler
- Barbecues.
Special needs: There’s an interesting article on the playground in an architecture journal here.
Nearest takeaway coffee: Livvi’s Cafe is right beside the playground, a social enterprise managed by the Touched By Olivia Foundation
Toilets: The toilet block is just outside the playground, with both child and adult change tables.
Shade: Yes, plenty from trees and shade cloths however these can be busy in high summer and some of the playground is still in full sun.
Enclosed: Yes, fully fenced with only one exit/entrance.
Mum’s report: You will really appreciate coming here whether you have kids with special needs or not. I’m so glad my kids have such a great place to come where they see all sorts of people, all sorts of ages and stages. And there’s something about the equipment that really encourages me to get in there and play with them.
Parking: Plenty of parking along Henley Marine Drive
Bus stop nearby: Yes
Video of Livvi’s Place Five Dock
If you have a child with autism, you might find it helpful to show them this video about Livvi’s Place before a visit. It’s a bit out of date eg there is now a roofed area over the roundabout, but it’s helpful.
Livvi’s Cafe at Livvi’s Place Five Dock
Stay up to date with the cafe opening hours and activities there on the Livvi’s Cafe Five Dock Facebook page. On Facebook you can also find a Friends of Livvi’s Place Five Dock group.
Livvi’s Place Five Dock Map
You can tell myself and my Ms8 had a very enjoyable visit to the playground! It wasn’t crowded the overcast day we were there, however at weekends this excellent playground can be busy.
You might also be interested in these articles:
The Bay Run – A Great Walk or Cycle for Families
Sydney’s Best Cafes Beside Playgrounds
Livvi’s Place, Yamble Reserve Ryde
Do visit these playgrounds. They are excellent and I’m sure you’ll join me in being so happy that the needs of ALL members of the community are so well catered to.
Have you visited one of the Livvi’s Place playgrounds?
Happy playing!
Your girl sure did enjoy with all the “stunt” poses she did for you! Nice place!
Julie
Gourmet Getaways
And this was a day when, according to her, she was very unwell and couldn’t go to school. Let’s hope the teacher doesn’t see the photos. Oh well, we all need a mental health day now and then. xx