The Council has over 20 children's playgrounds throughout the Borough. The largest of these are at Central and Hesketh Park, and there are numerous small and medium sized playgrounds elsewhere, in residential areas.
Playgrounds are managed by the Council's Housing or Environmental Contract Sections. They are maintained by the Environmental Contracts Section through a specialist contractor, Clements Play Management Ltd.
This company has a contract with the Council for playground inspection and routine maintenance until 2019. A full list of playground sites is shown below (a few of the sites listed are not currently owned or managed by the Council but are due to be taken over from private developers in due course).
A Skatepark has been constructed in Central Park after detailed consultation with the Skateboarding community over the design. This park incorporates a bowl and a plaza, which was built by Gravity Engineering Ltd with funding by Dartford Borough Council and a grant from Barclays Spaces for Sport.
| Site Name | Details | Age Group | Locked at night? | General Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Albert Road | Entrances off Albert Road / High Road and Martin Road / High Road, Wilmington. Nearest Postcode - DA2 7DL |
Toddlers to 10 years | Yes | Medium sized playground with multiplay units and shaded grass areas |
| Almond Road | Entrance off Almond Road, Stone Nearest postcode - DA2 6BD |
Toddlers to 10 years | Yes | Small site with limited equipment |
| Attlee Drive | Entrances off Attlee Drive, Tennyson Road and Littlebrook Manor Way, Temple Hill Nearest Postcode - DA1 5DN |
All ages | No | Large site with surfaced ball court, teen zone and equipment for all ages |
| Bell Close | At eastern end of Bell Close, Stone Nearest postcode - DA9 9BP |
Toddlers to 8 years | No | Small playground with limited range of equipment |
| Cavell Crescent | Entrances off Henderson Drive, Cavell Crescent and Wordsworth Way, Temple Hill Nearest postcode - DA1 5NS |
All ages | No | Medium sized equipped site with a grass football area.. |
| Cedar Road | At junction of Cedar and Hazel Roads, Tree Estate, next to Community Centre Nearest postcode - DA1 2RS |
All ages, including teenagers | Yes - floodlit until 9.30pm | Medium sized recently refurbished site, with small skate park, floodlit ball court and teen shelter |
| Central Park | Entrances to the park off Market Street, Lowfield Street, Cranford Road, Princes Road and Darenth Road Dartford. Nearest postcode - DA1 1EU |
All ages | Yes | Major facility within the Town Centre Park with a large range of equipment including zip wire, range of multiplay units, toddler trampoline, Waterplay, bike track, ball court |
| Darenth Country Park | Entrances off Green St Green Road and Darenth Park Avenue. Nearest postcode - DA2 6PU |
Toddlers to 10 years | Yes | Natural playground site with stepping stones, log walk and tree stumps within a larger Country Park |
| Hesketh Park | Entrances to the park off Park Road, Pilgrims Way, Canterbury Close, Watling Street and The Brent. Nearest postcode - DA1 1ST |
All ages | Yes | Major facility within a large open park with a good range of equipment including multiplay climbing units, ball court and teen zone. |
| Hill Rise | On the green at Hill Rise, Darenth Nearest postcode - DA2 7HX |
Toddlers to 10 years | No | Medium equipped site with a bike track and grass football area. |
| Humber Road / Kenwyn Road | Entrances off Humber and Kenwyn Roads, Dartford Nearest postcode - DA1 2TG |
Toddlers | No | Four small sites with limited equipment and grass. |
| Jessamine Place | Entrances off Jessamine Place, Wiltshire Close and Kirby Road, Stone Nearest postcode - DA2 6EU |
Toddlers to 10 years | No | Medium sized equipped site including grass games area |
| Joyce Green Lane | Entrances off Joyce Green Lane and Trevelyan Close (stepped access), Temple Hill Nearest postcode - DA1 5EU |
All ages | No | Major equipped site with a range of multiplay units, bike track, grassed football area and teen zone |
| Lagonda Way | Entrance in Lagonda Way, Dartford Nearest postcode - DA1 5EH |
Toddlers to 10 years | No | Small equipped site with grass area. |
| Low Close | Entrance in Low Close, Stone Nearest postcode - DA9 9PE |
Toddlers to 8 years | No | Small equipped site. |
| Page Close | Access from Page Close and Stonewood, Bean Nearest postcode - DA2 8BX |
Toddler to 10 years | No | Small equipped site. |
| Penney Close | Entrance off Penney Close, Dartford Nearest postcode - DA1 2NE |
Toddlers to 8 years | No | Small equipped site |
| Queens Gardens | Entrances off Queens Gardens, Hesketh Avenue and Princes Road, Dartford Nearest postcode - DA2 6HZ |
Toddlers to 10 years | No | Medium sized equipped site with grass games area |
| Swallow Close | Entrances off Swallow Close and Chalice Way, Saxon Park, Stone Nearest postcode - DA9 9PT |
Toddlers | No | Small toddler only equipped site |
| Willow Road | Entrances off Willow Road, Heath Lane and Blackmans Close, Dartford Nearest postcode - DA1 2QP |
Toddlers to 8 years | No | Small sized equipped site.. |
| Willow Walk | Entrance off Francis Road, Chatsworth Road and Savoy Road, Dartford Nearest postcode - DA1 5AT |
All ages | No | A large equipped site including multiplay units, multi-use games wall, bike track and teen zone. |
| Wilmot Road recreation ground | Entrance off Wilmot Road, Dartford Nearest postcode - DA1 3BE |
All ages | No | Large equipped site with several multiplay units, toddler trampoline, ball court, bike track and grass football area adjacent. |
| Windermere Close | Entrance off Windermere Close, Dartford Nearest postcode - DA1 2TX |
Toddlers to 8 years | Yes | Small site with limited equipment and grass area |
| Worcester Park | Accessed from Church Path, Steele Avenue and Cowley Avenue, Stone Nearest postcode - DA9 9QA |
All ages | No | Large equipped site with a range of multiplay units, zip wire and basketball hoop. |
Parishes Councils Playgrounds:
There are 21 equipped play facilities maintained, repaired and funded through Parish Council resources.
Stone Parish Council:
- Stone Recreation Ground
- Waterstone Park (soon to be adopted)
Bean Parish Council:
- Bean Recreation Ground
Southfleet Parish Council:
- Southfleet Village Hall
Darenth Parish Council:
- Waller Park
- Green St. Green Commons (Common Land)
Sutton and Hawley Parish Council:
- King Georges Field, Hawley
- Burnt House Lane
- Sutton Recreation Ground
- Playground (rear of Balmoral Road)
Wilmington Parish Council:
- Oakfield Park
- Chestnut Grove Open Space (leased from DBC)
Swanscombe and Greenhithe Town Council:
- Swanscombe Park
- Manor Park
- Broomfield Road Recreation Ground
- Swanscombe Heritage Park
- Knockhall Road Recreation Ground
- Valley View Playground
- Saxon Court Play Area
Longfield Parish Council:
- Long Valley Hall and Park (leased from DBC)
- Whitehill Road Recreation Ground
- The Oval and Playground
Privately Owned Playgrounds:
- Phoenix Place - Playground etc
- The Dell - Playground
- Barnwell Road - Playground
- Darenth Village Park - Playground, open space, Football
- Ingress Park - Playground, Heritage park
- Bexley Park- Playgrounds, open spaces
- High Trees - Playground
- Baker Crescent - Playground
- Cameron Drive
- Marsden Gardens
- Waylan Gardens
- Vimy Drive
- Shiers Avenue
- Hardy Avenue
- Critchley Avenue
- Whites Close
- St Peters Close
- Taylor Row
- Pier Road
- Continuity Court
- Griffin Walk
- Waterstone Way
Housing Association:
- Cugley Road - Playground
- Wodehouse Road - Playground
- Cornwall Road - Playground
- Groveherst Road - Playground
- Whitfield Crescent - Playground
Other Information:
- Dogs are not allowed on any children's playground site
- Adults allowed on same site only if accompanying a child
- All playgrounds managed by Dartford Borough Council are inspected and cleaned daily except Christmas Day
- Priority on equipment should be given to the under 12's
- Please report any damaged equipment, accidents or other problems to 01322 343434
Useful Links:
- National Children's Bureau - Play England *
- National Playing Fields Association *
- London Play