Over the last year, we’ve been treated to several new parks in Milton Keynes, including Linford Manor Park and Willen Lake park. It’s been great to see new places pop up, and have somewhere new to explore. Last month another new park entered the park scene, this time in North Crawley, over towards Newport Pagnell way. The new North Crawley play park opened in February 2022 following a grant from the FCC Communities Foundation, and generous donations from North Crawley village residents.
We frequently visit North Crawley, as it’s where my other half grew up, and we take the kids to visit their Granny and Grandad. Over the years we’ve often ended up in the park, or in the summer the field to watch the cricket, and the previous park was always fun for the kids, but it wasn’t the best. You could tell it was in need of a facelift, and so when I heard there was going to be a new play park built I was excited to see it!
North Crawley play park is a nicely spread out enclosed park, with two climbing frames, a trampoline, seesaw, playhouse, and lots of swings. I took my 2-year-old Ivy to play in the park a few weeks after it opened, and the first thing she was excited to see was the trampoline! If you’ve ever read any of my other park reviews with trampolines in, you will always see a photo of Ivy jumping as it’s impossible to get her off it!
The first climbing frame as you enter the park is more suitable for younger children, although I would it’s one for very confident climbers. To get up the climbing frame there’s a little climbing wall, which Ivy loved and whizzed up no problem. There’s a tunnel to climb through, ropes to climb across and then a super-fast slide.
The other climbing frame we didn’t have much of a go on it as it’s definitely for older children. But Ivy did like playing with all the colourful shapes and numbers on the boards at the bottom of the climbing frame. Similar to the smaller version there’s a range of ways to climb up, ropes to climb across, and a slide. During our visit, there was a group of older children that spent ages playing on this and it looked like they were having a great time!
There’s such a good offering on swings at this park, you’re spoilt for choice! It’s nice to see some different types of swings here, some of which I’ve not seen in other parks around Milton Keynes. There’s one that two children can sit on together, one you can sit on with a smaller child, a baby swing, and a bucket swing. Ivy had a fun time playing on the different swings, and it’s lovely to have so many options!
North Crawley play park has this cute little house in the park too. Ivy had a lovely time playing in here and shouting hello out of the windows! It’s a lovely addition for some imaginative play, and it’s a nice size so a few children could fit in here together.
We honestly had the best time visiting this park and spent around an hour here. Previously the old park never seemed to get much attention, whereas during our visit it was full of children of different ages. It was amazing to see some life back into the North Crawley play park, and all this has been done by the hard work of some local residents forming the North Crawley play park committee. They’ve done an amazing job, and visiting this park knowing the hard work that’s gone behind it feels extra special – I’m looking forward to many more trips here with the kids and their Grandparents!
How to Find it
North Crawley play park is just behind the North Crawley Institute, the best address is High Street, North Crawley, Newport Pagnell, MK16 9LH – use the map below for directions. There is a small car park next to the institute.
I Enjoyed North Crawley Play Park, Where Can I Go Next?
If you’ve had a good time visiting the play park and want something else to do, you can find the trim trail down the bottom of the cricket field. There’s a slide, an assault course with things to climb across, and a climbing wall. Great if you have active kids!
You can also find one of the Free Little Libraries outside North Crawley Institute – allowing you to bring your books to swap here. We’ve swapped some books here during our visits and left with some other lovely ones – there’s always a good range of kids’ books here! This free little library is also quite special, as it’s in memorial of a local lady who passed away in 2018 set up by her three children, hoping to bring joy and a community spirit to the village.
