I recently found a playground that had just been upgraded — Kilpack Park, in Carlingford. The space itself isn’t particularly large, but the design is genuinely thoughtful. The biggest highlight is a treehouse-style climbing tower, plus a big slide, a climbing net, a balance beam and swings, so kids can climb and slide for a long time. There are plenty of big trees around the park too, and the whole environment feels comfortable. The council also specifically kept the original Blue Gum trees in place.
What makes it worth the trip
The design is genuinely well thought out — small, but polished. The climbing equipment is varied. There are swings and a slide suited to younger kids. There’s a grassed area to run and jump around on. There’s a picnic table, a BBQ and a water fountain. The paths are wide, so pushing a pram around is easy too.
Worth it once your kid wants more of a challenge
Since our kid turned five, we’ve been on the hunt for parks with some real challenge and thrill to them, and Kilpack Park, which only opened a few days ago, is absolutely one of them. The park itself is small, but just on the strength of its climbing equipment, nearby West Epping Park and Boronia Park both have to take a back seat.
Playground highlights
The standout feature is the tall climbing net — kids have to climb all the way to the top before they can slide down the extra-long slide, so there’s real challenge built into it. It suits preschool and primary-school-aged kids best, and children who love sport and climbing will have an especially good time here. If your child is 2 to 3, there’s relatively little for them to do, and they might lose interest after a short while. And the same reminder applies: there’s no toilet on site, so it’s worth using the bathroom at nearby Carlingford Court before you head over.
An immersive playground, built for every age
The baby and toddler zone has twin small slides and a timber balance beam — low, gentle equipment that’s safe for the youngest kids to use on their own. The giant treehouse climbing tower and extra-long slide are the big kids’ main event for burning energy, with a real sense of layered depth to the design, like stepping inside a Dr Seuss picture book illustration. The triple-combination swing set includes a basket swing for babies, a parent-and-child double swing, and a regular swing, so the whole family can sit down together. And there’s adult outdoor fitness equipment too, so parents can get a workout in while the kids play — childcare and exercise at the same time.
A bit more background on the upgrade
This wasn’t a quiet local refresh — it’s a $1.55 million project funded through the NSW Government’s Western Sydney Infrastructure Grants Program, delivered with the City of Parramatta. The council’s own plans confirm what we noticed on the ground: the existing Blue Gum High Forest trees around the park were deliberately protected through construction rather than cleared for the new equipment, and the BBQ, shelter and furniture already on site were kept rather than replaced. On the toilet question, council documents show a permanent public toilet and change-room is planned for a later stage of works, to serve the playground alongside the skate park and water play area next door — so for now, Carlingford Court really is the practical fallback, not just a workaround we stumbled into.
The one thing to know before you go
There’s no public toilet inside the park itself. If you’re bringing young kids, plan ahead for it, especially if you’ve got one who’s potty training. The nearest option is Carlingford Court, about 350 metres away, which can work as a backup (a tip that came via Ryde District Mums).
Address: 28 Darwin Street, Carlingford NSW 2118.
Overall, I’d put it in the category of a “not a big space, but beautifully designed, good for a drop-in visit while you’re passing through” kind of playground. If you happen to live around Carlingford, North Rocks, Eastwood or Epping, it’s worth giving a try.
Would we go back?
Yes — it’s easily one of the more serious climbing playgrounds in the area right now, and the Blue Gum setting makes it a nicer place to sit and wait your turn than most suburban playgrounds manage. If you’re looking for other spots nearby with a strong climbing structure to compare it to, it’s worth checking our Victorian and NSW school holiday dates so you can time a visit outside the busiest school-holiday crush.