Royston has 12 play parks for children. Some of the larger parks are worth bringing along a picnic and settling in for the day, whilst others are more suited to a quick drop in on the way home.
1. Betjeman Road
Small grassed play area, surrounded by trees and shade. Swings, climbing frame and rocker.
2. Browning Close
Play area, with a small fenced off toddler area with an all-weather. Round the corner of the houses, there’s a small agility course for older children with wooden play equipment, including balance boards and beams.
3. Farrier Court
Farrier Court has a small fenced off play area with an all weather surface, aimed at small children. There’s a springy see-saw and a climbing frame with a wooden bridge, slide and plenty of places to climb up!
4. Ivy Lane
This modern play area sits between the houses in a green open space. There’s swings, a climbing wall and slide, balance beams and a spinner – and seating for the grown ups.
5. Newmarket Road
Newmarket Road offers a large recreational space for children of all ages. The large grassy area can be used for ball sports, and is surrounded by trees with plenty of shade. There’s a separate fenced off toddler area at one end of the field, which includes baby swings and a climbing frame, and a purpose built teen area at the far side of the field, including a skateboard ramp.
6. Priory Memorial Gardens
The Priory Memorial Gardens have two separate fenced off play parks. One for smaller children (image in file) has a climbing frame, baby swings and larger swings, mini roundabout and rockers. There’s plenty of shade and seating, and there’s a mix of all-weather surface, grass and wood chip to prevent bumpy landings! The second fenced off area has two climbing frames, each with a slide and one of which has a curly slide, and there’s a fun rope swing seat. Just outside of the fenced off areas is the popular Splash Park, a teen shelter and tennis courts.
7. Redwing Rise
A tarmacked path surrounded by green space and shrubs circumnavigates the housing estate on Fieldfare Way. It’s popular with dog walkers, runners and cyclists. Just off Redwing Rise is a fenced off children’s play park with an all weather surface and activities for children of all ages.
8. Sassoon Drive
This new, small play area provides a slide, rope walk, climbing frame, see-saw and balance ropes for small children to play on.
9. Serby Avenue
Perhaps Royston’s largest play area, the facilities at Serby Avenue can be reached from either the Burns Road or Serby Avenue end. There’s a large grassy area with large scale equipment for older children, fitness equipment, a tarmacked netball/basketball court and a zipwire. At the Serby Avenue end, there’s a separate fenced off play area for small children, surrounded by mature trees so there’s plenty of shade on hot days. The play equipment had a makeover in 2017 so it’s well worth a visit.
10. Shakespeare
Owned by North Herts Homes, this is a small climbing frame and grass area.
11. Studlands Rise
The play area at Studlands Rise has a tennis court and large grassy area for ball sports. It is just off Stile Plantation so near the woodland walk. The fenced off play area has benches, swings, baby swings, a climbing frame, ‘motorbike’ rockers, a roundabout and rope swings.
12. York Way
Accessible from both York Way and Willowside Way, the recreation ground has a fenced off area for smaller children with baby swings, an elephant rocker, climbing frame and basket swing. There’s a ball games area with basketball net, and at the far end of the field, a new wooden agility course with ropewalk, logs and balance beams.
