One of Budapest’s largest slide playgrounds gets an exciting makeover – see the photos

A favourite playground for generations has been revamped for its 50th birthday, with giant slides and launching towers unveiled in Budapest over the weekend.

Almost a year ago, on 31 January 2024, the Budapest City Assembly decided to allocate a total of HUF 200 million (EUR 490,000) to rebuild the famous playground on Óbuda Island.

Such a large-scale reconstruction was necessary because a comprehensive condition survey in 2022 revealed that “the playground’s surface and the foundations of its equipment were accident-prone and rotting, so some elements had to be gradually closed to public use”. At the same time, work began on the reconstruction of the playground, including the organisation of public workshops and the incorporation of the results into the plans. However, during the planning process, playground safety standards changed and now only allow slides with a lower slope to ensure children’s safety. It was therefore necessary to incorporate new curves into the structure. Some parts were still in good technical condition, so they were retained to save costs and promote sustainability.

One of Budapest’s largest slide Playgrounds gets a complete makeover – see the photos. Photo: Márton Merész/enbudapestem

What has changed?

The wooden covering under the slides has been replaced with a modern, fall-protective rubber surface in the colours of the island’s resident kingfisher. The slides and launching towers have also been renovated. For the more adventurous children, several climbing routes, ropes, and colourful climbing holds have been installed to help them reach the top of the hill. For those less adventurous, the stairway has been renovated. In the summer heat, sun sails will be hoisted over the slides to provide shade. Greening efforts have also been made, with five mature trees planted and 35 square metres of biodiverse perennial space introduced.

The renovation of the playground is not over

Work on the suspension bridge between the two pyramids is still in progress, so this area is not yet open to the public. These play areas are expected to open to children in autumn 2025, according to officials.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *