Sydney is looking at a long hot summer ahead, so it’s fantastic to see Curry Reserve Water Play Park becoming even more wheelchair accessible. We were impressed when we visited earlier this year but we’ve heard that as of yesterday, additional wheelchair access has been added – just in time for the warm weather. If I’m not mistaken, this will be Sydney’s first truly accessible water play park, that’s free to enter.
We visited Curry Reserve water play park on a warm summer’s day and plenty of families were enjoying the splash park. Although water parks are technically accessible because you can move around them easily in a wheelchair or walking frame, it’s hard to use them without a wheelchair getting absolutely soaking wet. That’s why I was so excited to read that Camden council has now included Hippocampe wheelchairs for visitors to use (I am still researching how to get access to them). These are often used at the beach or on walking tracks so they are ideal for a water park.
Many playgrounds include a small splash park, but Curry Reserve hits the mark in addressing the needs of families living far from the coast in the South West Sydney region. Covering a large area which includes 36 play features, this is a park which has plenty to engage visitors for a day.
For younger children, or those who prefer quieter water play, I love the inclusion of the Discovery Stream, where hands-on discovery is encouraged via the interactive weirs of fish and duck wheels. Packing a boat to play in the stream would ensure even longer play time I’m sure.
For those who are game enough, the centre piece of the water play space is the Beach Ball Soaker which fills and then dumps 113 litres of water on those brave enough to gather below. This alone necessitates the inclusion of the Hippocampe water chairs. No plastic covering will keep a wheelchair dry from this dumping!
Curry Reserve Water Play Park has a water feature to suit every personality from dare devils to tamer players.
Plenty of shade is on offer with large shade sails covering the majority of Curry Reserve.
Since our visit earlier this year we hear a bathroom facility has been added which has been built in line with Changing Places Australia’s specifications.
Multiple accessible parking spaces are available in the car park at Curry Reserve with an accessible path leading the way from the parking area to the water park.
Barbecue facilities and plenty of seating ensure this is a place people can enjoy for a full day.
I suggest contacting Camden Council if you’d like to access the Hippocampe chairs at the park because I’m unable to find information on how to borrow them. Camden Council’s contact is (02) 4654 7777. And you can read more about Curry Reserve Water Play Park on the Camden Council website .
