Sassy Mama family field trips: Jordan Valley Park, Kwun Tong, Kowloon

This week for our family field trip we found ourselves in Jordan Valley Park, Kwun Tong (not to be confused with Jordan Valley Playground!). If you missed last time, we were splashing around at Pao Yue Kong Swimming Pool in Aberdeen and you can read all about our experience here.

This week the intrepid field trippers were; one mama-in-the-know from Maya Kids, one unusually energized dad, plus Jem, aged 3.

For the uninitiated, Jordan Valley Park is a vast green area in Kwun Tong, so if you’re feeling a little hemmed-in and craving outdoor space this is definitely for you as your kids can roam and romp as much as they like in the 6.3 hectares that the park covers!

Formerly a landfill site (you’ll see a lot of signs strictly forbidding you from lighting fires or even a candle… you have been warned!) the government has done Hong Kong proud by creating a park that’s jam-packed with outdoor recreational facilities including a huge children’s outdoor playground; 2 central lawns (1 partly shaded); 4 jogging tracks, various gardens, including a maze garden and the major pull… two radio controlled model car racing circuits – one for enthusiasts (circuit A) and a smaller one for kids (circuit B).

Hits
The green, green grass and lots of it which you’re even allowed to walk on unimpeded by the normal overzealous park attendants; the massive children’s playground, the jogging tracks (approx. 1.2km) that circle the park with elevation, so good for a spot of exercise with a view (energized Dad did 3km that day!); the remote control car areas – a favourite of the boys, with or without cars, as you can watch the enthusiasts whizz their speed machines around. If your little one has their own car then definitely bring it along so they can race it to their heart’s content without bashing into all your furniture at home for a change! It’s covered, in case of those inconvenient Hong Kong showers! Heaps to explore including 3 outdoor gardens, 2 large lawns, 1 horticultural education centre – and the day we went – one lovely bright red tractor which the park keepers kindly let little Jem have a ride on. It’s stroller friendly with hardly any steps; a good picnic spot with tables and parasols, has child-friendly bathrooms with mini toilets and sinks; admission is free and on-site parking is available (42 spaces, $6 per half-hour).

Misses
Gets busy at weekends, if you’re driving arrive early to get a spot in the car park (from 11am the car park gets very busy). The central lawn is not shaded so sun hats and parasols at the ready or visit when the sun is not beating down.

The Verdict: one of Hong Kong’s best-kept secrets (until now!). It feels like Hong Kong’s version of Central Park with green, green grass beneath your toes! And well done Hong Kong for actually doing something with your old landfill sites.

How to get there:
By MTR: from Tsim Sha Tsui MTR station, take exit C2, then take bus 26 from SuperStar Seafood Restaurant which stops at Shun Lee Fire Station. From here, walk towards New Clear Water Bay Road and the entrance to Jordan Valley Park is there.

Jordan Valley Park, 71 New Clear Water Bay Road, Kwun Tong, Kowloon, Hong Kong.