City of Parramatta will soon no longer support this version of IE. Consider upgrading your browser now. 
It’s here…the fabulous F.S. Garside is open for all to enjoy
It has been a challenging journey, from make-safe to make it fabulous, but F.S. Garside is finally open and it’s looking fantastic!
Officially opened by City of Parramatta on 21 August, 2024, the 3-hectare park has been re-built from the ground up, completely transformed into a multi-purpose park that will delight people of all ages.
Get excited for super lush and durable natural turf sports fields (opening soon once the grass has established), new spectator viewing areas and amenities. There are also simply awesome playgrounds with all the best gear for climbing, sliding and more.
The BMX pump track and flying fox will thrill, exercise stations are ready for PB challenges and there are courts for ball games.
An enclosed off-leash dog park has been included for our furry four-legged residents to enjoy with their human companions, and there is lots of new landscaping across the park including native garden beds.
More than 160 trees, 130 shrubs and 26,600 groundcover plants have been added - all predominantly Australian natives. It’s a much greener F.S. Garside which is only going to get better with time.
Plan a visit and do it all!
The $17M new F.S. Garside was funded by the NSW Government.
More information
Call Council on 1300 617 058 or email placeservices@cityofparramatta.nsw.gov.au
A history we’ve re-written, a fabulous new F.S. Garside Park has emerged
Records show that F.S. Garside Park, historically known as Macarthur Park, operated as a local landfill during the 1920s and early 1930s. It was converted for use as a soccer field by placing a deep compacted soil layer over the landfill and planting a grass layer over the capped landfill site.
In May 2019, Council commissioned soil investigations at the site as part of its planned works to upgrade community and recreational facilities provided in North Granville.
Consistent with its former use as a rubbish tip, soil test results indicate some areas of the park contain materials (buried beneath the soil) that may pose a risk to public health and safety if disturbed.
As a precautionary safety measure, Council closed F.S. Garside to prevent public access and minimise the risk of soil disturbance.
After considering these results, the NSW Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) later advised Council it now considered F.S. Garside Reserve to be a James Hardie Legacy Asbestos Site.
Council continued to plan for the transformation of F.S. Garside and approached the NSW Government for funding to assist in what would be a major works program involving some incredible remediation and redesign work that would create a totally new multi-purpose park for all the community to enjoy.
The highly-complex construction project has taken around two years to complete. Following a detailed environmental management plan, more than 15,600 tonnes of contaminated soil was removed, capping was installed, and with the site made-safe, the fun stuff began.
The BMX pump track was created, the flying fox and playground equipment was installed, and the design for the dog park, sports facilities, grandstand and more came to life. More than 144 trees, 162 shrubs & 27,500 groundcover plants have greened the site - all predominantly Australian natives.
More than 16,700m2 of turf was laid to complete the sports field and now it will be cultivated and cared for to ensure the community will be able to play on well-established and durable grass sports fields.
The $17 million F.S. Garside was officially opened on 21 August 2024.
More information
Call Council on 1300 617 058 or email placeservices@cityofparramatta.nsw.gov.au
This project is proudly funded by the NSW Government in association with City of Parramatta.
