New Sydney playground lets imaginations run wild

Inner-city children are invited to imagine their own lost world when the City of Sydney's latest individually-designed playground is officially opened in Glebe this month.

The refurbishment at Jubilee Park, designed by award-winning landscape architect Sue Barnsley, includes a slippery dip 'mountain', sandpit and swings and a handcrafted, pod-like cubby house hidden in the branches of a fig tree. Its creators nicknamed it the 'lost world'.

Anna Lovato, who travels all over Sydney to find good playgrounds for her children, said Jubilee was immediately one of her favourites.

She explained "there's nothing quite like this – this whole park is pretty cool, I love the slide and everything else… and the adults certainly appreciate it when they incorporate the trees and the shade.

"I think they did a really good job. It's nice to see how they put money back into the community."

The Jubilee Park playground is one of 87 play areas in Sydney that are undergoing a makeover in an ongoing renewal program to ensure residents can find recreation and play areas for their kids within a 10 minute walk from home.

Lord Mayor Clover Moore said the City was working hard to ensure beauty and creativity flourished in all public spaces, stating "everyone should be able to find a patch of green close to home and we are making sure our residents and workers have a range of open spaces to cater for all age groups."

The playground is just one feature within the parkland surrounding Johnston's Creek, where an ambitious program of works is underway to provide an extra 3.8 hectares of quality public space. The addition is a result of an agreement for the residential redevelopment of the former Harold Park harness racing course.