Despite the number of well-established parks in Sydney’s Northern Beaches, the 55-year-old Tania Park at Balgowlah still remains a favourite amongst many park-goers due to its massive space and breathtaking views.
Tania Park is located adjacent to Dobroyd Headland which makes it the perfect spot to view the Sydney, Middle, and North Harbours. Aside from the scenic view that the park offers, Tania Park is also an off-leash dog park, a sports field, and a playground for young children.
Tania Park History
Balgowlah Heights developed into one of Northern Sydney’s residential areas back in the late 1950s and early 1960s. It was during this period when a great number of families moved in and expanded in the area, making it a thriving suburb.
Given the influx of young families living in Balgowlah, one of the heightened demands from its locals is a sports field where they can play and move freely on weekends and holidays. That is why in 1963 the construction of the requested sports field began. And just a year after its construction, a new local sports field had emerged and was opened to the public.
The officials of the Manly Council decided that the sports field will be called Tania Park, in honour of Tania Verstak- a migrant who was brought up in Manly, and the winner of Miss NSW and Miss Australia in 1961 and Miss International Beauty in 1962.
Tania Park opened to the public with a dressing pavilion and two concrete cricket pitches. And in 1965, the Manly Rotary Club donated a playground set that was placed at the western end of the park.
Up until today, Tania Park has proved itself to be popular amongst sports enthusiasts, kite flyers, and young children. With its size and scenic view, Tania Park has been attracting large crowds to witness different events and celebrations held at the park ever since it opened in 1964.
The Perfect Park for All Ages and Even for Pets
The sporting oval at Tania Park is often used during the weekends for sports games and training such as soccer and cricket. Other well-being leisures and activities such as kite flying and yoga can also be done at the park.
Should you wish to play and use the oval for other sports and personal development activities, you may contact Manly Council via phone at (02) 9976 1500 for more information.
Apart from the sporting oval that Tania Park offers, it also has an enclosed and sheltered playground for young children, walking tracks, electric BBQ, changing room, benches, water fountains, and public toilets. Parking is available too within the park’s vicinity.
Dogs are also allowed at Tania Park. There are several off-leash zones where you can play and run with your dogs freely. This makes it the perfect park not just for park-goers but also for their pets.
Connecting All Through Play
As part of the ‘Connecting All Through Play’ campaign of the Northern Beaches Council, Tania Park’s playground was upgraded last February 2019, and by April 2019 the work was completed.
Upgraded features at the playground include:
- A new inclusive playspace with a range of equipment for both children and their carers. Newly placed equipment include the following: a double bay swing, hurricane swing, wheelchair accessible carousel, shipwreck themed multi-play unit, inclusive slide, talk-tubes, play-hut and balance log.
- A main entry to the playground that is adjacent to the parking lot.
- More landscaped areas to enhance nature play for young children.
