Halifax’s Hydrostone neighbourhood has two fine playgrounds within ten minutes walking distance of each other – Isleville and Needham. I continue to hear very positive comments on the Isleville Park Playground from a number of parents. After seeing the facility first hand, it’s easy to understand why parents are enthusiastic (photos).
Isleville Park Playground is located in a spacious, fenced setting contained within the block bordered by Isleville, Sebastian, Agricola and Duffus streets (map). Park entrances are located on Isleville and Sebastian streets where there is also some unmetered parking available. This playground was completely made over in 2002 -2003 with leadership from the Novalea Community Association and with the assistance of municipal and provincial governments, the North End Dance Committee, the Edwards Family Charitable Foundation, Kinsmen/Kinettes and the Optimist Club of Halifax.
If you and your kids are overheating and need a refreshing cool off on a sticky, summer sunbright day then Isleville’s pièce de résistance is its spray me, spray me water park. Rainbow coloured arches, a fire hydrant and a whale’s tail pump out water jets in sequenced intervals to the absolute delight of the little ones running through this sprinkler heaven. I was here with my 19-year-old Alexa one afternoon while the little ones were napping across the harbour. We barely managed to maintain our decorum. It was touch and go as to whether we would stream through the spray ourselves squealing in abandon like the little ones. In the end, we did keep ourselves in check. I’ll make sure I’m decked out in let’s get wet clothes when I bring Nellie and Noah to this spot.
Isleville is teeming with equipment over and above the water park. At the west end there are two modular components for the older kids. The largest of the two includes a series of balancing pendulums, a two tower platform with connecting tunnel plus a standard, a corkscrew and a tunnel slide. A second modular unit features two towers with one slide each and a connecting tunnel. Both units have multiple access points of varying levels of difficulty to climb up onto the platforms. They are also raised high enough off the ground that there is room for children to play underneath and find a little cool shade on the hot, hot days. Lastly in this section of the playground, along its western boundary, are six swings. The day we are there four girls are pumping energetically, reaching for the sky, toes pointed to the clouds, long hair streaming to the ground.
There is a playground for the smaller kids on the park’s eastern boundary just beyond the water fun. There are two swings, a springy whale and frog. In addition, there is a mini twin tower complex connected by a crawl through tunnel. Each of the towers sports a double slide. Attached to the rear of the towers structure is a table top play area with two circular depressions that could easily be make believe sinks, or fine receptacles for the pebble infill that is available in great abundance.
This is a well cared for playground, freshly mowed grass, garbage free, no broken glass. There is a covered area with a picnic table, lots of room for running games and three beautiful murals that decorate the exterior walls of the one building on the grounds. If you are travelling by bus, take the number 7 which will take you to within a four to five minute walk from either Novalea Dr. or Robie St.
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| From Isleville Park Playground |
Fort Needham Memorial Park Playground is in the southeast corner of a small, elevated tableland overlooking the approach to The Narrows about 1.5 kilometres distant (map). This is part of the area that was devastated by the Halifax Explosion nearly 100 years ago. A permanent memorial to commemorate the explosion is located in the north end of the park.
This is a modest playground in comparison with its companion on Isleville St. It is similar to Seaview Memorial Park Playground in scale and equipment offering. A green plastic dragon stands sentinel next to the slide. It’s our second dragon sighting in Greater Halifax playgrounds. This one is undoubtedly related to a blue dragon down at Seaview. With the exception of the swings, the equipment has been totally replaced within the last four years.
Needham Playground is a climbing, swinging, sliding venue (photos). In the compact single equipment module there are six different climbing challenges including a spider web and a three circle ladder. The highest of the two platforms gives access to a double slide. The under three crowd will require close supervision here and perhaps a little assistance climbing the stairs to the slides. For the younger set there are also five ‘baby’ swings, the largest complement I’ve seen to date in any of the playgrounds we’ve visited. With ample climbing, sliding and swinging there is lots of opportunity for fun and a good playground workout for ages four through nine. If you get a chance to swing yourself and you crane your neck just a little, you’ll get an aerial glimpse of the harbour.
This is a nice walking park that also includes a baseball diamond and tennis courts. There is lots of room for running, catch, frisbee and similar activites. Unmetered parking available on Needham and Young streets. There is also a small parking lot at the Needham Community Centre. If you’re coming by bus, the number 7 travels north and southbound on Novalea, the 9 on Duffus and Lady Hammond.
Not too far from either Isleville or Needham playgrounds is the Hydrostone Market retail – resto complex. Good eats and interesting curios. More run of the mill shopping is available relatively close at hand on the Young Street strip between Robie and Windsor streets. Finally if you have the time and it’s to your taste you can double up your playground fun by taking a dip in the pool at the Needham Community Centre.
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