Centrepiece for community sport and place for families to come together

The popular North Granville park now boasts a BMX pump track, multi-use sports court, flying fox, new playground including nature play, climbing structures, swings and play tower, picnic and barbecue facilities, sports facilities and grandstand.
City of Parramatta chief executive Gail Connolly said it marks a new era for the North Granville community.
“This park is for everyone – it’s a new chapter for F.S. Garside and we’re excited to see it fully restored for a new generation of young families and people to enjoy,” Ms Connolly said.
“More than 160 trees, 130 shrubs and 26,600 groundcover plants have been added – all predominantly Australian natives – while more than 16,700 square metres of turf will now be cultivated and cared for to ensure the community will be able to play on well-established and durable grass sports fields.
“This project is the benchmark for site remediation – righting the wrongs of the past and creating a vibrant space that is safe to explore.”
The park’s sporting field will remain closed as the grass continues to establish roots and is expected to open to the public in late 2024.
Concern over the number of public amenities has also been addressed with toilets, change rooms and a kiosk included in the final design.
Minister for Planning and Public Spaces Paul Scully said the former landfill site has been transformed with more than 15,600 tonnes of contaminated soil removed to create an outstanding facility to be enjoyed by the broader North Granville community for generations to come.
“The new public open spaces will make sure F.S. Garside Park becomes the local centrepiece for community sport and a place for families to come together to enjoy the outdoors.”
State MP for Parramatta Donna Davis said it’s a new chapter for the park.
“With the re-opening of F S Garside we can look forward to wonderful memory making as goals are scored, sausages are turned on the barbie, BMX burn down the track and imaginations run wild in this magical playground,” Ms Davis said.
“This important upgrade to F.S. Garside Park will directly benefit up to 7,600 surrounding homes for the Parramatta community.”