Rope Tower of Thoiry

The rope tower in Thoiry is the newest addition to the area after being opened just yesterday for the first time.
It's clearly popular already and was almost invisible yesterday for the swarm of children covering it.
I hope in time more will added to this area. Currently this tower stands alone in a large field.

Versoix's Outdoor Pool

The sports complex outside Versoix has a playground. There's a wooden climbing frame and a rubber floor.

The other  piece of enjoyment here is the rope bridge and various paths that have been created through the bushes. In the bushes there is a wooden Wendy house for playing in.

The best reason to come here would be for a day at the open air swimming pool here which is also at this location.

Lunching and Climbing at the Chavannes Centre

The self-service restaurant at the Chavannes shopping centre has a terrace that runs into three climbing frames including a pirate ship.

Unfortunately, we always visit Chavannes Centre in the rain - its a good rainy day destination!

The Tractor at Commugny

Commugny is a small village that seems to have excellent sports facilities. It's very close to Coppet and the motorway so, if you have a tractor fan in your family, this playground is worth a visit.

Wine while they climb, in Peney

The Cafe at Peney, near Satigny, has a public playground right outside. You can easily sip a glass of the local wine while your children play quite safely within this fenced-in playground.

The playground itself includes a climbing frame in very good condition. There is also an 'eau potable' fountain just outside the playground.

Next to the Auberge in Satigny

Playground in Satigny, Switzerland

Adjacent to the Auberge Communale de Satigny is a public playground and playing field. The climbing frame is brand new and hardly seams to have been used.
There's a slide, some swings and a sandpit but the main attraction, while we were there, was playing hide and seek behind the bushes. Some leafy trees provide excellent shade.

I expect if you reserved exactly the right table at the Auberge you could just about look over the playground - I will certainly be back.

Playground in Satigny, Switzerland

Rope Pyramid at St. Genis

The rope pyramid in St Genis is challenging enough to keep older children interested while underneath small ones can enjoy the large sandpit.

A football pitch and skate park are also on hand.

The park is a short walk from St. Genis centre. It's also just a pleasant ten minute walk along to the river bank to the Castle at St. Genis.

Story Train at Crozet

A visit to the train at Crozet normally brings great excitement.

Drive the train, walk along its length, climb on the roof,...

Park at St. Jean

St. Jean de Gonville has a really tranquil park of trees and shrubs. Aswell as the swings in the middle there are some good rockeries and hiding places to play on and in.

The ground floor of the climbing  frame is great, it has a table and chairs for a child scale picnic.

St. Jean park is a great venue for a lazy afternoon.

Russin Looking Over the Vally

In Russin village centre the playground overlooks the vineyards and valley.

It's just a single climbing frame but it's well maintained. Worth visiting if you are passing.

Climb in the Vineyards

At Satigny-Dessus there is school playground with climbing frames and a witch's hat. It's a nice playground surrounded by vineyards.

This is a public playground when not in use by the local primary school.

There's also a skate park with half pipe and grind rails next door.

Jardin Alpin In Meyrin

The Jardin Alpin in Meyrin is a very well maintained park with a good climbing frame and swings. The  park has streams, some impressive fauna and a rose garden. The animal enclosure usually has some goats or geese to look at.

Despite the park being encircled by trams, busy roads and the high rise flats of Meyrin this park is well worth visiting.

Funny Man in Meyrin

Funny Man In Meyrin

This small playground is next to the Jardin Alpin. The only purpose it serves is to distract your children when you are trying to get them back in the car after visiting the Jardin Alpin.

There is no comment as to why the funny man is there.

Castle at St. Genis

The castle playground in St Genis is usually a fairly quiet place with some picnic tables. There is a fence around the swings and in fact the whole park is surrounded by a robust fence (punctuated by gates, of course). A track around the large grassy area of the park allows children to do circuits on their bikes, scooters or tricycles.

For the adults there is also an exercise playground with rowing and climbing machines. The climbing machine seams, to me at least, to be particularly hard to use.

Squeaky New Ikea at Vernier

Ikea Play

Today was the grand opening of the new Ikea at Vernier and here is the play area. It's quite different to the Ikea at Aubonne. The best thing is the vertical pipes on the ground that are connected by mirrors.

The crèche also looked great through the window - Ballpit-tastic.

Dardagny's Turrets

Dardagny has an unusual climbing frame. It's made from tubular steel and the slide (not in picture here) is made up of just two metal tubes. I presume that the climbing frame's design is based on a ship's crow nest but it perfectly echos the turrets of the adjacent Chateau (now housing the Marie and the village school).

In the playground there are also some swings and an (eau non potable) water fountain.

Octagon at Peron

Climbing Trees at Peron

There are some climbing frames in the middle of Peron right next to the Marie. Some leafy trees give shade to some benches and some very low branching trees are good for climbing.

There's a tiny train as well, it's a log with a chimney on top but it does the job.

About 20m away there is a small cafe which is sometimes open.

Peron octagon and a tiny train.

Panoramic Climbing at Challex

Challex has one of the best locations for a playground I know. Located at the top of Challex by the football stadium you get good views of both the Saléve and the Jura.

It's grass for a change in between the swings and there's a good picnic table for your lunch.

Challex seems to be pretty quiet,  the only thing I could hear today was church bells and the genuine sound of Pétanque balls clacking.

The particular attraction with the climbing frame here is the little room on top of the climbing frame where children all go and hide out. Challex is a relaxing playground for the parents too.

Get Interactive at Flunch

Flunch Interactive

Play table  coming away from the wall.

Flunch is the recently rebranded cafeteria at Carrefour in Segny. It has a toddler's area which is basically a pretty small copy of an Ikea cafeteria play area with interactive panels and those beads on wire things. It also has a tiny telly so far away you can't see it.  I noticed also that one of shelves was coming away from the wall which, given this is a new place, seems bad. The ball pit that used to be here in Cafe Cresendo has now long gone.

Table Football and Skateboard Park at Moëns

Concrete table football, just bring your own ball.

On  the outskirts of Prévessin-Moëns by the football pitch there are various sports facilities including some swings. The climbing frame is good. The round-a-bout looks good but pushing it far too hard and it squeaks, it just needs a good oiling.

There's also concrete table tennis and table football there to use, just bring a bat and ball.

And of course there is skateboard park with half pipe, a basketball court and what I thought was a massive sandpit but was, of course, a vollyball court.

Genrally this place feels a bit on the edge of nowhere and most people probably drive here but it's a nice enough place if you are passing.

Boat at Gex

Boat at Gex

The new boat at Gex is almost certainly one of the best playgrounds in the Pays de Gex. The huge boat can be climbed on 3 levels with slides, bridges, pole, ... The surface beneath the climbing frames is rubberised and bouncy. The play area is completely fenced in including the only self shutting gate I have seen in the area. As well as the boat there are some swings, two slides and a slightly harder climbing frame for older children.

Boat Park at Gex