A brand new playground celebrating one of Marion’s most storied families has officially opened at Patritti Reserve in Dover Gardens, and it’s packed with charming nods to the area’s winemaking past.
The City of Marion has transformed the former Scarborough Terrace Reserve into a welcoming space for families, complete with a fenced playground, outdoor fitness equipment, an upgraded running track, and fresh landscaping. The $587,000 upgrade is designed to give locals a spot where kids can play while parents sneak in a workout.
But it’s the playground’s design that really tells a story. Drawing inspiration from the Patritti family’s century-long connection to the site, you’ll find a custom wine press-inspired slide, cork steppers for little feet, grapevine climbing features, and an “I Heard It Through the Grapevine” dendrophone musical panel (yes, really).
A century of winemaking in Marion
Giovanni Patritti arrived in South Australia from Italy in 1925 and established Patritti Wines the following year. He grew Muscat and Doradillo grapes on land that included what is now Patritti Reserve, as part of the Patritti vineyards at Dover Gardens.
A hundred years on, Patritti remains one of Australia’s last remaining suburban wineries. Historical markers throughout the new playground help tell this story, including a photograph from around 1950 displayed at the entrance showing the land during its vineyard days.
“We’ve created a place where children can play and everyone can exercise, while acknowledging the 100-year contribution of the Patritti family to the culture and history of the Marion area,” Mayor of Marion Kris Hanna said.
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