Mushroom Park

About Mushroom Park

Not everyone likes the huge hot air balloon that dominates the skyline at Mushroom Park, opposite the Radisson Blu Hotel. A few grumbles have been heard.

However, that was before the grumblers knew that the balloon also marks the spot of a rather pretty inner-city park. A magical park with green, landscaped lawns and a quaint, little river that flows down the bottom.

Known as Mushroom Park to most people the park was recently renamed Hyundai Sky Park, for rather obvious reasons (the balloon that soars to 120 metres, every now and then, is sponsored by Hyundai who have also invested in the park's rehabilitation).

The small park, which has always been there but certainly not in its present pretty state, was rehabilitated as part of the Gautrain project – the grounds served as a temporary 'shaft' allowing the construction company responsible for the train's tunnel access to the construction works.

Now the park's rolling slopes are the site of an interactive children's play area (including a sandpit), an earth garden, outdoor gym, amphitheatre, duck pond and a paved path for walkers, joggers and cyclists. Tables and benches are perfect for picnics and mid-week nanny and au pair meets, there are clean public toilets, and a couple of beefy looking security guards.

The park provides a welcome reprieve from the noise, shopping malls and high-rise buildings that dominate Sandton, giving a calm, time-out space for families with dogs, and business execs in need of an outdoor cell phone conversation, a bout of fresh air, or a bit of sunshine during their lunch hour.

The hot air balloon is operated by Aerial Displays for Hyundai in similar fashion to the Hyundai balloon at Montecasino in Fourways.