Sandyknowes playground

Sandyknowes is one of those no-frills local spots that just does what it needs to do, and does it well. The climbing structure keeps the little ones busy, and the football enclosure gets plenty of use from older kids wanting a kickabout. It’s small, yes, but honestly that works in its favour — easy to keep an eye on the kids without having to chase them halfway across a field. The walking path around the perimeter is a decent loop if you’re just after a bit of fresh air while the toddlers run themselves out. For a urban park in Newtownabbey, it’s kept in good nick — noticeably tidier than a lot of comparable spots in the area.