Hazelwood Park, Adelaide

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Sign heralding Hazelwood Park from Greenhill Road

Hazelwood Park is a park in the suburb of Hazelwood Park, Adelaide.

The biggest attraction, in the park is the Burnside Swimming Centre. There is a lap pool, plus a 25m kids pool and a wading pool. There is also a sauna and steam room, plus two playgrounds and a kiosk. This location is only open through summertime because it is an outdoor pool and is very popular on hot days in Adelaide (greater than 32⁰C) when it is open late.^[1] First creek continues it's journey from the hills through the park, the water flowing from Waterfall Gully and into Tusmore. There is also the normal assortment of play areas, picnic tables and barbecues. The park is relatively large by local standards and there are no playing fields. It is more strongly characterised by massive old Gum Trees that can be seen from blocks away. Although it is well facilitated, it is normally not as popular as the nearby smaller Tusmore Park.

[edit] Burnside Swimming Centre

Burnside Swimming Centre is a large swimming complex in the park, opening in 1966. The swimming center was a pet project of then-Mayor George Bolton, he had a grand vision of what he wanted Hazelwood Park, where the centre was to be located, to become. Bolton met unprecedented public opposition in 1964 when the idea was first unveiled. The substantial elderly population of Burnside (15%) was wholly opposed to the idea, suggesting the influx of troublemakers and noise was hardly worth the effort. The cost was estimated at £75,000. While architects were resigning over the scale of the proposed development and a number of residents were up in arms, the Adelaide newspapers had a ball; cartoonists throughout 1964 spent many of their daily cartoons covering the debacle. With the failure of a poll to decide the fate of the idea on the 24th of March the Sunday Mail proclaimed the headline "Burnside Says NO to Swim Pool". Mayor Bolton was not dismayed by the result; he pushed further ahead with his idea announcing new plans in December. After a strong PR campaign and minor changes to the project a poll in February 1965 voted strongly in favour of the idea. The Mayor had won his battle and it was christened the George Bolton Swimming Centre in his honour upon opening.

Logo of the swim centre	Front door	The smallest of the three pools	Facilities at the centre
	Open space and green grass at the park	WWI memorial obelisk	Olive trees in the park
First creek running through the park	BBQ and picnic bench for free use	Trees at the park