Ever heard of
Ginger Meggs? You probably have if you read the
Daily Telegraph, in particular the comic strips. He's that red-headed kid who's always getting up to mischief.
The man responsible for creating the enduring character was James C Bancks (often called Jimmy), who started the strip in 1921. He has passed away now but this park is one of the places he used to play as a child living in Hornsby. It was named in honour of him in 1997.
Unfortunately, the park isn't very accessible for the average visitor. It's at the bottom of one of the valleys in this area and therefore requires some driving down a steep hill. Most people would have no reason to use the road, Valley Road, either. Not to mention the fact that on your way there, you'll come across Reddy Park first if approaching from one direction, and Lisgar Gardens from the other.
Should you make the trip, however, you will find Ginger Meggs Park is a nice little park backing onto the bush. There's open space (it's not leveled though) and lots of play equipment within a circular bike path. Sheltered tables provide somewhere to eat and picnic and there is a bubbler for water.
To get to the park, follow Pretoria Parade or any of the streets that lead to the west of Peats Ferry Road, into the residential area behind
Hornsby RSL,
Hornsby Odeon. Ginger Meggs Park is the lowest and most western place you can access from these, and is therefore probably not very well-known (I might even have to add it to my list of
Hidden Gardens in Hornsby).
