Prospect Park in Reading has a fantastic new playground which just opened today ahead of schedule and we just had to go and check it out. The brand new play area is part of a major investment into Reading’s parks, replacing the old worn out area and relocating closer to the Ranger Station.
The new Prospect Park play park is absolutely packed with equipment for all ages, ideal from toddlers with a stretch right through for bigger kids. It’s all surrounded by a fence so no danger of little ones running off. It was chucking it down with rain when we arrived and the outside grassy area was very muddy so it was great to have the rubber flooring as a soft cushion and so you weren’t squelching through the mud.
The toddler area is at the top end and has a lovely little play house to climb up with slides down. George climbed up on his own and then pretended to make me dinner, we had shepherd’s pie which is family favourite! He really like the musical area too with drums to bang, a noisy wheel to turn and chimes with different tones.
There’s lots of accessible play equipment which was perfect for little legs from a nest swing to a big round wobble board. My son was able to easily move from one area to another as it caught his attention.
Swings are a classic playground favourite and they have a good variety from baby swings to regular and accessible. There’s a really good variety generally through the play park with unusual structures to climb through, activity boards and lots of slides of different sizes.
I really like that they have included lots of lower level attractions rather than just the token nod. There’s a ground-level roundabout, lower-level inclusive play net, accessible see-saw, tactile panels, ground-level games, and a large accessible springer.
This is all perfect for young kids but what about the big ones? If you have kids with a spread of ages then you really need something with a bit more of a challenge too and the large double climbing tower has big appeal.
It has an accessible ramp leading up which George ran up and down with me saying please don’t slip in the rain!
I can’t quite believe it but we ended up climbing to the top of one of the towers for a great view out. There’s the most fantastic super long tube slide but we had a wobble at the top and decided not to go down.
There’s a great variety of swings down this end too with a swinging rope that you could get several kids on at the same time and a circular roundabout style swing and if you’re more after more action, there’s a zip wire too.
If you’re after a really good coffee and a tasty treat, Ela’s Coffee Bar are right by the playpark. Spring opening times are 8am to 4pm Tuesday or Sunday and they’re closed on a Monday. This might change for the summer.
The wider park has lots of space to run around and explore, playing fields and right at the opposite end there’s a skate park too.
After a good play we thought we might try out the low ropes which is inside at the Ranger’s Station. Unfortunately we timed it wrong and they were having a safety inspection so we’ll just have to come back.
Prospect Park Parking
There’s a free car park by the Ranger’s Station and next to the playground. There are toilets but they’re currently not working (hopefully fixed soon).
