Open Space Plan 2021-2026

What is open space and why is it important?

There is a strong link between good quality, accessible open space and the liveability of our suburbs. Open space underpins many social, environmental and economic benefits that are essential to a healthy community.

Council's open space network includes parks and reserves, sports fields, playgrounds, community gardens and linear pathways, such as the River Torrens Linear Park and shared path corridors. Our network also includes land with a drainage or utility purpose,  paved areas and landscaped road reserves. These spaces provide opportunities for our community to play sport, be active, relax, connect with nature as well as with other people. This in turn supports the health and wellbeing of our community.

Council's parks and streetscapes play an important role in supporting healthy communities and attractive neighbourhoods. As such, we aim to ensure that these spaces are planned, managed and maintained in a way that benefits our community

Council's Open Space Plan 2021-2026

Council's Open Space Plan aims to support a city where people want to live, work and enjoy life.

In recent years we have made it our mission to improve the quality, and expand the usage, of many of our recreational areas in West Torrens, such as our state-of-the-art facilities at Apex Park, Weigall, Lockleys and Camden ovals.

This Plan builds on where we have come from and what we have achieved and provides an important guide for meeting future needs.

It does this by addressing emerging issues such as:

• Increasing infill development: the shift to higher density living is placing greater demand for diverse and accessible public open spaces.
• A growing and diverse community: open space needs to be accessible and meaningful for all age groups and people of all abilities.
• Climate change and urban heat: our open space network needs to provide green and cool refuges, wildlife habitat and be integrated into stormwater drainage.