Saint-Dontauspark. Prohibited: "to hinder any game of the walkers ..."

The expansion of the park began with the purchase of the four workers' houses and the house Den Horen, located here at the back in Vlamingestraat. Their gardens formed an inconvenient corner in the park. In 1861, they were purchased by the city, and a wall was built through the gardens. The gardens now belonged to the park, and the houses were rented out.

In 1865, the backyard of the College of the Hoge Heuvel was acquired. At that time, it was owned by the president of the college. The garden thus had an exit to Vlamingenstraat. He was allowed to demolish the city wall that bordered the northern side of the plot. The shooters' guild, on the other hand, still had an exit along the city wall to Naamse street. Through an exchange, the city and the guild waived that exit but received the plot on Vlamingenstraat instead. Today, we see a playground here.

Children were always required to be supervised. They were not allowed to throw stones and ' engage in any games that could hinder passersby, such as ball, rope, and butterfly games [kite], … etc. '. Parents were responsible for the children and could be fined for violations.

In 1926, a first play corner for smaller children was established on the side of the former athenaeum. The first city playground – a small, dug-up grass field where children could ' dig holes ' and ' play in the soil ' – would not be established until 1927. In 1978, that became a play village with play equipment.

Jan Rymenams