From tried-and-true favourites like Marlow Park, home of the dinosaur slide, to the state-of-the-art equipment at the Memorial Gardens in Mosgiel, there are endless opportunities for fun in your neighbourhood and further afield, as reporter Ellie Constantine discovered.
Active outdoor play is not only vital for children's sporting ability, but for their academic performance as well.
Sport Otago active movement co-ordinator Kate Saunders said physical and mental development, which occurred when children played on swings, slides and monkey bars, aided them in handwriting and concentration.
Bars aided children's upper body development, which was important for when they were writing; and the pincer grip they used on them was the same as when they held a pencil.
"We see it as a learning strategy. It sets them up for their schooling," she said of play.
Letting children go headfirst down the slide and flying high on the swing was also important, as it allowed their balance system to develop.
In turn this allowed them to sit still in the classroom and hold themselves upright in a chair.
"We underestimate the importance of swings and bars for kids."
Another aspect of mental development was risk taking, allowing children to "challenge themselves, assess risks and set their own boundaries".
The politically correct and "accountable society" of today meant parents and caregivers were worried about letting their children roam free.
"A bit of rough and tumble is good for kids," Ms Saunders said.
She also emphasised the value of explorative play.
"We are losing imaginative play because they are spending so much time in front of the TV."
Living in an instant world meant they did not have to make things up anymore, but taking them to playgrounds with jungle-gyms and forts allowed them to create games and scenarios for themselves.
"We have seen a massive change in modern society in terms of children being a lot less active."
By spending less time outside, children missed out on oxygen and endorphins which were important for their development.
"Playgrounds are a fantastic thing for them to be using," she said.
Healthy habits were a way for families to get active together and for parents to be good role models.
Ms Saunders suggested taking a walk to the beach or park every Sunday and making it a family tradition.
Through her job at Sport Otago, she often came across parents who believed they could not afford toys to get their children active.
However, with the number of parks in the city, which were free, parents had little excuse.
Many old playgrounds were also getting upgrades, such as the one at the St Clair Esplanade, which was popular; and Navy Park in South Dunedin, which had some "really good swinging stuff", she said.
