Ruffey Lake Park facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Ruffey Lake Park |
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The south-eastern section of Ruffey Lake Park, looking north-west
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| Location | Melbourne, Australia |
| Area | 68 Hectares (168 acres) |
| Operated by | City of Manningham |
| Paths | Vary between sealed and unsealed |
| Terrain | Bushland and hills |
| Water | Ruffey Lake |
| Vegetation | Australian Native, Remnant orchards |
| Facilities | Toilets, barbecues, 2 playgrounds |
Ruffey Lake Park, often called Ruffeys, is a popular park in Melbourne, Australia. It's located in the City of Manningham, a suburb of Melbourne. The park is built around Ruffey Lake, which was created from Ruffey Creek. This creek flows through a valley, marking the border between the areas of Doncaster and Templestowe.
You can enter the park from three main spots: Victoria Street, The Boulevard, and King Street. Ruffey Lake Park is about 68 hectares (168 acres) in size. It's the biggest urban park managed by the City of Manningham. The park used to be made up of fruit orchards. Today, it has a mix of plants, including native bushland along the creek, pine trees, and even some old fruit trees from its past.
The park is named after Ruffey Creek. This creek was dammed a long time ago to help water the orchards. This is how Ruffey Lake was formed. Every summer, the park hosts the annual Manningham Carols by Candlelight, a fun event for everyone.
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Park History
After European settlers arrived, the original bushland was cleared to plant fruit orchards. In 1966, the local council bought the land to turn it into a public park. Ruffey Creek was dammed in the mid-1990s, which created Ruffey Lake.
Today, both the creek and the lake help manage stormwater. This means they collect rainwater that runs off streets. The Wurundjeri people, who are the traditional owners of this land, still have a strong connection to the area, including nearby Westerfolds Park.
Park Facilities
Ruffey Lake Park has many great facilities for visitors. There are three toilet blocks and electric barbecues available for picnics. The park also has three playgrounds, which are located near the Boulevard and Victoria Street entrances.
In recent years, many of the park's facilities have been improved. The playgrounds, especially the big adventure playground on Victoria Street, have been upgraded. There are also sealed paths that let you easily walk or ride bikes through almost all parts of the park. These paths are wide and in good condition. The north-west part of the park has fewer facilities.
Victoria Street Entrance
The Victoria Street entrance is often seen as the main way into the park. It features a huge, three-story adventure playground. This playground has swings, slides, ladders, a sandpit, and even a flying fox! There's also a four-story dome with stairs and ladders.
Near this entrance, you'll find barbecues, new unisex toilets, and drinking fountains. There are also maps of the park and shelters with seating. Some of the pathways have special concrete tiles that show the names of people and groups who helped fund the park's facilities.
The Boulevard Entrance
The Boulevard entrance is mostly used by people who live nearby. The playground here is surrounded by hills and is smaller than the one at Victoria Street. However, it's still in great shape. It has slides, swings, ladders, and monkey bars. There's also a flat area perfect for playing footy or soccer.
This area also offers barbecues, toilets, a park map, drinking fountains, and a covered seating area. Sometimes, an ice-cream truck visits the playground. In the summer, the area around this entrance hosts the Manningham Carols by Candlelight in December. It also hosts The Iranian Fire Festival in March.
Other Fun Features
Just south of Ruffey Lake, there's a hill that BMX riders love to use. It has many small tracks and different jumps for them to enjoy.
Images for kids
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Ruffey Creek, near its source in the Yarra River at Finns Reserve in Templestowe
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Ruffey Creek vegetation restoration
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Wetlands restoration
