The Sticks is the outdoor playground at Highpoint Shopping Centre and you can’t miss the big blue and green sticks rising out of the ground as you enter via Warrs Rd – hence the name.
The Sticks replaces the previous playground outside the entrance of the Fresh Food Market/Woolworths at Highpoint. The old playground was rather ho-hum but did have the advantage of being fully fenced. The only problem was that some parents used to dump their kids inside the fence and then go shopping!
So the new playground is not fully fenced – it is partially fenced against the road and some of the seating acts as barriers to the cars travelling towards the car park. It does require parents to be more vigilant.
The playground is bright and cheerful, with a range of equipment to suit younger and older kids. I think it’s been cleverly designed using vertical elements, making the most of the small footprint of the soft fall flooring.
The bouncy rubber cushions are a hit, as they emit a squeaky sound when jumped on.
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Younger kids will also enjoy the musical xylophone, the spinning wheel and stepping stones.
For older kids there’s quite a challenging rope climb along one wall which leads into a tall tower with more climbing structures and a tubular climbing net.
The ropes are pretty high so it’s probably not suitable for under 3s who can’t manage ropes on their own.
There’s a water fountain and a little bit of shade from a shade sail. The nearest toilets and change facilities are inside the shopping centre. And of course there are lots of eating and shopping option inside Highpoint.
The Sticks at Highpoint is a fun and colourful play area which can act as a useful reward if you’re dragging kids shopping! Other play areas at Highpoint include the Pop Up Park with its popular cubbies, Play9 interactive digital screens and a digital forest. Plus every Wednesday morning 10-1pm during school term Highpoint hosts Mini Makers, free creative events for under 5s – including my Book Swap Bike.
For more great shopping centre playgrounds check out Eastland, the Play Pods at Chadstone and Box Hill Central.
Click here for more playgrounds suitable for older kids.
HOT Tips:
- Suitable for toddlers;
- Suitable for older kids;
- Some shade sails;
- Seating, water tap;
- Public toilets and change facilities inside; and
- Free parking.
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