Frances Newton Reserve: Darlinghurst’s New Pocket Park

Designed to spark the imaginations of Darlinghurst’s children, you won’t find swings and slides in this new inner-city park. Instead, the historic site of the Frances Newton Kindergarten has been turned into a pocket playground fit with stepping stones, speaking tubes, distorting mirrors, a rain wheel and timber animals, as well as a community gardening plot.

Located at 222 Palmer Street in Sydney’s Darlinghurst, the park honours its namesake, Frances Newton, who taught at the Sydney Kindergarten Training College in the early 1900s and helped established free kindergartens in the inner city.

The park was designed with input from the local community and was opened last weekend by Lord Mayor Clover Moore and Marjory (Marge) Love, an attendee of the Frances Newton Kindergarten back in the 1920s. The event allowed locals to explore the park while enjoying live music, free coffee and gelato.

So, what is a pocket park?

These are small areas allowing families to spend time together and play outside, in even the most inner-city suburbs. Measuring just 280 square metres, this is Sydney’s 280th pocket park. Who wants to go on an adventure to tick them all off?

More Playgrounds To Discover Here

Parramatta's First All Inclusive Playground
New Train Themed Playground
CBD To Get An Adventure Playground

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Images courtesy of Damian Shaw / City of Sydney