Ruffey Lake Park

MelbourneParks
park= Ruffey Lake Park


image size= 250px
caption= Map of Ruffey Lake Park
type=
location= Melbourne, Australia
coordinates=
size= 68 Hectares
opened= 1977
operator= City of Manningham
visitors=
status=
landscape= Bushland and hills
vegetation=
water= Ruffey Lake
paths= Vary between sealed and unsealed
facilities= Toilets, barbecues, 2 playgrounds
landmarks=
transport=

Ruffey Lake Park is a park in the City of Manningham, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. It is situated around Ruffey Lake in a portion of a valley through which the Ruffey Creek runs, forming the border between Doncaster and Templestowe. It has 3 main entrances, Victoria St, The Boulevard and King St. Despite being the second largest park in Manningham, second to Westerfolds Park, it is the biggest park managed by the City of Manningham. Formally orchards, the park has a diverse ecology; this includes a riparian strip of native bushland around the creek, areas of pine trees planted by early settlers and pockets of fruit trees remaining from past orchards. During the summer it hosts the anual Manningham Carols by Candlelight.

History

Prior to European settlement, the area within the park was occupied by the Wurundjeri people. After European settlement, Ruffey Creek was dammed creating Ruffey Lake, the area within the park was covered in orchards which utalised the lake for irrigation purposes. Today, the creek and lake serve as storm water drainage basins, rubbish dropped on the streets regularly flows down the creek and there are waste catchers deployed in the lake itself to catch some of this pollution. [EPA Victoria]

Facilities

The park has 3 toilet blocks with separate male/female sections. Electric barbecues are distributed throughout the park. There are 2 playgrounds in Ruffey Lake Park; near the Boulevard and Victoria St entrances. In the last 10 years facilities have been upgraded, predominantly the playgrounds, especially the Victoria Street adventure playground. There are sealed pathways giving access to almost every area of the park. These are of standard width and in relatively good condition but do not host dividing lines. The north-west area of the park has fewer facilities. ["Melways" Edition 36, 2009]

Victoria St Entrance

The Victoria St entrance is the unofficial main entrance to the park. It hosts a 3 storey adventure playground with swings, slides, ladders, a sandpit, a 4 storey dome with stairs and ladders and more. There are also barbecues, toilets, drinking fountains, maps of the park and an shelters with seating. Concrete tiles on a newly built pathways state sponsors and donators to the recent upgrades to these facilities.

The Boulevard Entrance

The Boulevard entrance is mainly used by local residents. The playground is surrounded by a hilly area and is smaller than Victoria St but is still in good condition. It contains slides, swings, ladders, monkey bars, a flat area to play footy or soccer and more. It has resources such as barbecues, toilets, a map of the park, drinking fountains and an undercover seating area. The playground is sometimes visited by an ice-cream truck. In the summer, the area around this entrance hosts the Manningham Carols by Candlelight.

Other features

Just to the south of the lake is a hill used by BMX entusists with many small tracks and a range of jumps, some very dangerous. There is a small, old quarry located near the Victoria Street entrance which is a popular spot for bouldering.

Regulations

ee also

*Melbourne parks and gardens
*City of Manningham
*Ruffey Creek Trail

References

External links

* [http://www.manningham.vic.gov.au/CA256D26001ED423/page/Listing-Family-Ruffey+Lake+Park Profile at Manningham Website]
* [http://www.worldisround.com/articles/327629/index.html Photos at Worldisround.com]