Oak Park Sports and Aquatic Centre

We thought we'd give Oak Park pools a try over the summer School Holidays and it did not disappoint. Loved that it was all outdoors and plenty of shade on the grass with large tress and umbrellas. The kids loved the slides. One slide for using a tube to sit on and the other slide without. There is also a fully shaded toddler pool area with a water play space including the giant splash bucket. There is an outdoor shower to have a quick rinse near the pool but also toilet block with showers. The cafe has very limited food choice so best to bring a packed lunch and snacks. There is a McDonald's across the road if your willing to do a maccas run. Overall a great day out and definitely recommend Oak Park Pool for a summers day out for the young and old.

Sarah · 2026-01-27

Doing the waterslide trail these summer school holidays with 13yr old boys. Bag check security at entry was a new experience setting a different pace on arrival. In fact a lot of security can be seen throughout the site in their blue T-shirts. Should we be concerned? Seasonal pools & 2 great outdoor slides. Both enclosed, there’s the blue one you can buddy up with on an inflatable raft and double down, and the orange one. You just need to be 120cm to enjoy the slides. A mere 31 degrees today, ensured the slides were definitely open and not at capacity, which can happen. The teens boycotted the shaded water play splash area as it was designed for and full of littlies, enjoying the walk in beach entry, splashers, fountain sprays, soakers, overhead splash tip bucket, slides and climbing apparatus A 50 meter, 8 lane pool which luckily on a hot day was not heated to the 28 degrees had plenty of undercover cement bleacher seating for “adult supervision”. Water was clear, sparkly and enticing Not a lot of teens today, absolutely a lot of family groups / primary school aged and under A sectioned off area in the lap pool for dedicated lap swimmers to safely avoid contact with the summer fun youth activities The 20m learner pool was also packed and held warmer temperatures again covered by a large shade. Plenty of visible lifeguards on duty in all areas . Fake grass patches with large orange umbrellas were few & far between. We didn’t purchase anything from canteen, hence no comment(s) Parking was ok, you just have to luck someone leaving in the afternoon. Overall just on 3 hrs of entertainment & physical activity today all for just under $40 entry for 3 - swim/slide/supervision. Gotta love it!

Sally T. Ridden · 2025-01-09

Winnie the almost 14-year-old smooth collie has developed a bit of an obsession for sleeping in the clumps of native grasses under the eaves of the footy club rooms. She is at her absolute happiest sleeping outside, and the place she chose is sheltered from rain and wind. It is in the midst of a busy thoroughfare and she loves life going on around her. The people around here, including footy club officials and centre staff, seem to give Winnie free reign. She has proven herself to be perennially calm and friendly, frisky and keen to play if a puppy surfaces, and during daylight hours she is forever scanning the ovals for a dog on the horizon. She's also a little bit senile. They understand that Winnie is on her last legs, still they are all very patient and forgiving as she uses those last legs occasionally to flatten a clump of grass. I've learned how to steer her to open ground behind the clumps, and I also fluff the grasses back up before we move on. Winnie's love of this sports complex is based in her love of the dogs and their human companions who use the ovals. She also has a special bond with lots of the kids, being endlessly patient even now when pain and difficulties walking can be very pronounced. Winnie tries her hardest to get to the park as often as possible and we are very grateful she has a place where she can spend time surrounded by the scents and sounds and views that keep her so full of enthusiasm for life. And every once in a while I too will fall for the serenity of the park and start snoozing. She is kitted out in a dry coat, with a thick waterproof mat beneath her and often I put a blanket on top of her. Getting her to go home, no matter how many hours have passed w ile she sleeps, is hard work. Winnie has perfected all the stalling techniques, and is particularly adept at quietly hooking her lead around trees and posts, causing her no additional pressure but stopping the ealker dead in their tracks. As I attempt to wind back to her to bring her forward again, Winnie has already begun doubling back to the grass, dragging me with a force that reminds me of a small tug boat. It is difficult to remember that this stubborn divine dog won't be around for much longer. Her passion for living and acceptance of her limitations has been a humbling and privileged experience to go through, even if at times the sheer amount of care she requires can leave me worn out and ragged.

Crusader Hillis · 2024-07-27