A small suburban playground at 61R Patons Road in Howick, on Auckland's eastern side, Juliet Avenue Reserve carries a 4.4 Google rating and is looked after by Auckland Council.
Neighbourhood reserves usually run to a slide, a couple of swings and a patch of grass rather than the elaborate setups of destination playgrounds, which suits toddlers and under-fives better than older children chasing thrills. Weekday mornings tend to be the quiet times, while after-school and weekend hours fill up with local families. Auckland sun heats metal slides and rails quickly, so morning or late-afternoon visits are the comfortable ones. Small reserves are often unfenced, so it is worth checking the layout before letting a new walker roam.
For families around Patons Road, it is the sort of place to walk to when the kids need to burn off energy.