Kelman Square is a neighbourhood park in Kelston, West Auckland, holding a 3.7 rating on Google. Small suburban reserves are everyday green space rather than destination parks: they suit a dog walk, a kickabout or ten minutes on a bench better than a planned outing, and anyone needing playgrounds, toilets or sports fields will find the bigger West Auckland reserves better equipped. Check the gate signage before letting a dog off the lead, as Auckland Council rules vary between parks and sometimes between parts of the same reserve. After rain, expect soft or uneven ground on smaller squares, so sports shoes beat sandals for much of the year. Early mornings and weekdays stay quiet; after-school and weekend hours are when a local park is at its busiest. For a Kelston household, having open grass close to the front door is exactly the point.