Under the government guidance, playgrounds were able to open from 4th July. However many councils have opted for a more delayed phased approach, as they work through safety guidelines and risk assessments, check equipment and ensure safety measures are in place. More information on risks and safety can be found in the government guidance here.
You can find opening schedules for playgrounds in Gateshead, Newcastle, South Tyneside and Durham below, along with handy lists to help find your local play areas or for planning a day out. Parents and carers should take note of signage and measures in place, and talk to your children about the changes. If possible consider avoiding peak times, and be prepared to move on to an alternative spot and visit another time if it’s busy.
You can also find details of ticketed sessions with outdoor play areas listed in Useful Opening Info for Local Days Out, along with some lovely walks in Parks & The Outdoors – or for more secluded outings, my tiny tearaways have had great fun exploring the wilds of Gateshead – we’re still working through this list of Local Walks Away from the Crowds.
Circumstances and guidelines are continually changing. Please do check full details of the measures in place and the latest updates using the links below before making plans. Always follow the latest Government guidelines on social distancing and protective measures, particularly if you or a member of your household is in a vulnerable group. Do not leave home if you or anyone in your household has symptoms. Check the latest Government guidelines and updates here.
Gateshead
Gateshead Council announced that play areas have begun to reopen from 20th July, and all 120 sites across Gateshead are expected to be open by the weekend. Certain types of equipment is out of use for safety reasons, and some swings have been temporarily removed to ensure distancing. Visitors should adhere to the signs on safe usage in playgrounds. The public toilets at Saltwell Park are also now open between from 11am-3pm. Entry is limited to one person at a time and the toilets are cleaned between use, so queues are likely at busy periods.
Find out more information from Gateshead Council here. There’s a handy list below of some of the main play areas, you can also find out more about other parks and facilities here.
- Beggars Wood Park, Lobley Hill, NE11 0HJ
- Bensham Park, Bensham, NE8 1PX
- Bill Quay Park, Station Road, NE10 0UH
- Birtley Grove Park, Birtley Lane, DH3 1AW
- Birtley Welfare Park, Edward Road, Birtley, DH3 1HQ
- Chase Park, Front Street , Whickham, NE16 4EE
- Chopwell Park, Marx and Lenin Terrace, Chopwell, NE17 7EH
- Derwent Park, Burnopfield Road, Rowlands Gill, NE39 1LG
- Dunston Park, Dunston Road, Dunston, NE11 9PL
- Eslington Park, Bolam Street, Teams, NE8 2TQ
- Felling Park, Sunderland Road, Felling, NE10 9DF
- Ferndene Park, Main Road, Ryton, NE40 3RS
- Garden House Park, Crawcrook, NE40 4NB
- Greengates Park, Bleach Green, Blaydon, NE21 5BE
- Heworth Park, Felling, NE10 9DT
- Hodkin Park, Sheriffs Highway, Sheriff Hill, NE9 6QT
- Kibblesworth Park, Greenford, Kibblesworth, NE11 0TW
- Marley Hill Park, Cuthbert Street, Marley Hill , NE16 5DW
- Oliver Henderson Park, Wirralshir, Leam Lane, NE10 8DN
- Saltwell Park, East Park Road, NE9 5AX
South Tyneside
South Tyneside Council announced play areas will reopen on a rolling programme from Wednesday 22nd July. All play areas are expected to be open by the weekend.
Visitors are asked to carry cleansing wipes and gel and use them before, during and after visiting play areas, wash hands thoroughly when returning home, do not bring food or drink into play areas and take little home. Children must be accompanied by an adult. Find out more information from South Tyneside Council here.
Boldon
- Dipe Lane, West Boldon, NE36 0PR
- Disco Park, North Road, West Boldon, NE34 9AX
- Grange Park, The Hawthorns, East Boldon, NE36 0DW
- Mundles Lane, East Boldon, NE36 0SP
- New Road, Boldon Colliery, NE35 9DR
- Watson Terrace, Boldon Colliery, NE35 9BL
- Wells Street, Boldon Colliery, NE35 9AE
Cleadon & Whitburn
- Cornerstone, Kitchener Road, Whitburn, SR6 7NA
- Cornthwaite Park, Whitburn Bents Road, Whitburn, SR6 7BZ
- Coulthard Park, Whitburn Road, Cleadon, SR6 7QP
Hebburn
- Carr Ellison Park, Canning Street, Hebburn, NE31 2UE
- Clegwell play area, Mountbatten Avenue, Hebburn, NE31 2QG
- Lukes Lane, Marina Drive, Hebburn, NE31 2BA
- Monkton Dene play area, Valley View, Hebburn, NE32 5QX
- School Street, Hebburn, NE31 1TU
Jarrow
- Drewetts Park, Church Bank, Jarrow, NE32 3DY
- Ferry Street, Jarrow, NE32 3PS
- Heathway, Jarrow, NE32 4NQ
- Jarrow Riverside Park, Tyne Street, Jarrow, NE32 3PR
- King George, Lindisfarne Road, Jarrow, NE32 5UN
- Low Simonside, Taunton Avenue, Jarrow, NE32 3RT
- Perth Green, Dundee Court, Jarrow, NE32 4HJ
- Queens Road, Jarrow, NE32 3PZ
- West Park (Jarrow), Park Road, Jarrow, NE32 5JH
South Shields
- All Saints, Stanley Street, South Shields, NE34 0BX
- Biddick Hall, Galsworthy Road, South Shields, NE34 9JD
- Blenheim Walk, South Shields, NE33 2RH
- Chuter Ede, South Shields, NE34 9UG
- Cleadon Park (The Dell), Quarry Lane, South Shields, NE34 7RD
- Cornwallis Square, South Shields, NE33 1SD
- Dacre Street, South Shields, NE33 5QB
- Derby Terrace, South Shields, NE33 4NS
- Devonshire Street, South Shields, NE33 5SU
- Foreshore, Sea Road, South Shields, NE33 2LA
- Galsworthy Road, South Shields, NE34 8RF
- Mowbray Road, South Shields, NE33 3AP
- North Marine Park, Lawe Road, South Shields, NE33 2AL
- Readhead Park, Cemetery Approach, South Shields, NE34 6EU
- South Marine Park, Sea Road, South Shields, NE33 2LA
- St Marks Way, South Shields, NE33 4QQ
- Temple Park, John Reid Road, South Shields, NE34 8QN
- West Holborn, South Shields, NE33 1SE
- West Park (South Shields), Stanhope Road, South Shields, NE33 4LB
Newcastle
Urban Green Newcastle announced the opening of 7 playgrounds initially, followed by all playgrounds from 16th July. You can find a handy list below, and additional details on each one plus some lovely nature reserves and parks without playgrounds from Urban Green Newcastle here.
Visitors are asked to follow the signs on safe usage at each site and to talk to children to make sure they understand the measures in place. Please be aware that equipment is not being sanitized.
- Armstrong Park, Burlington Gardens, NE6 5QJ
- City Stadium Park, Warwick Street, NE2 1AQ
- Elswick Park, Beech Grove Rd, NE4 6RS
- Exhibition Park, Claremont Rd, NE2 4PZ
- Gosforth Central Park, Moor Road North, Gosforth
- Harbottle Park, Byker, NE6 2SX
- Heaton Park, Warwick Street / Heaton Park View
- Hodgkin Park, Armstrong Road, NE15 6JL
- Iris Brickfield, Whitefield Terrace / Rothbury Terrace
- Jesmond Dene, Jesmond Dene Road / Freeman Road, NE7 7DZ
- Kingston Park West, Kingston Park Green, NE3 2XG
- Leazes Park, Richardson Rd, NE2 4BJ
- North Kenton Park, Kenton Park Sports Centre, NE3 3JF
- Nuns Moor Park, Studley Terrace, NE4 5NU
- Paddy Freeman’s Park, Freeman Road, NE7 7AH
- St Lawrence Park, Walker Road / Dalton Street, Byker
- Summerhill Park, Summerhill Grove, NE4 6EE
- The Quarry Park, Haddricks Mill Road, Gosforth
- The Spinney, Newton Road, NE7 7HS
- Tyne Riverside Country Park, Grange Rd, Newburn, NE15 8ND
- Walker Park, Scrogg Road, NE6 4HA
Durham
There are 175 play parks across county Durham, with a summary of the re-opening schedule below. Full information is available from Durham County Council here. Playgrounds in eight popular parks opened on the 11th July, however Chester-le-Street Riverside Park remains closed as repairs are required to an eroded play surface.
Visitors are asked to maintain a 2 metre distance between those outside of your bubble and to wash hands regularly, including immediately before you leave home and on return. Bring a hand sanitiser and sanitise before and after entering the play area, and before and after using equipment. Don’t use your own cleaning products on equipment, and don’t bring food and drink into the play area. Only one adult should accompany their child, and children should only play with those in their own bubble. If play equipment is busy, please wait or be prepared to come back at another time.
Saturday 11th July
- Blackhill and Consett Park
- Hardwick Park, Sedgefield
- Bishop Auckland, Jane Armstrong Park
- Langley Moor Holiday Park
- Stanley, Oakey Park
- Stanhope, West End Playing Field
- Wharton Park, Durham City
- Willington Town Centre
Friday 17th July
- Local parks
- Annfield Plain, Annfield Plain Park
- Bearpark, School Field
- Bowburn, Bowburn Park
- Brandon, Sycamore Park
- Chester Moor, West Avenue
- Consett, Templetown
- Coxhoe, Linden Grove
- Crook, Glenholme
- Durham City, Lowes Barne
- Eldon Lane, Eldon Bank
- High Pittington, Manor View
- Howden-le-Wear, Jubilee Park
- Meadowfield, Addison Park
- Newfield, Primrose Hill (Bishop)
- Parkhill, Parkhill Playing Field
- Sacriston, Fulforth Centre
- Shadforth, Church Lane
- Shotley Bridge, Snows Green Road
- South Moor, South Moor Park
- Spennymoor, Bessemer Park
- Waldridge, Poplar Street
- Willington, Armoury Field
- Witton Gilbert, Fulforth Park
- Recreation grounds
- Bishop Auckland, Cockton Hill Helena Terrace
- Bishop Auckland, Recreation Ground
- Bishop Auckland, St Helens Middlewood Green
- Durham City, Belmont Moorfield
- Durham City, Gilesgate Laurel Avenue
- Durham City, Pity Me Abbey Sports Centre
- Hunwick, Church Lane
- Ludworth, Front Street
- Meadowfield, Leisure Centre
- New Brancepeth, Playing Field
- Perkinsville, Recreation Ground
- Sherburn Village, Leisure Centre
- Tantobie, Sports Ground
- Wearhead, Front Street
- West Rainton, Adventure Park
Wednesday 22nd July
Around 50 parks and play areas in large housing estates will open, full list here.
Saturday 25th July
40+ parks and play areas in large housing estates, plus smaller parks and play areas will open, full list here.
Wednesday 29th July
10+ smaller parks and play areas will open, full list here.
There’s plenty on Gateshead Mumbler to help keep little ones (and big ones!) busy over the summer, with local virtual classes (including free resources!), local days out and events & other useful blogs.
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