Gipps Street Recreation Precinct

A landmark 32-hectare sport and recreation precinct transformed from a landfill site.

Gipps Street Recreation Reserve is Penrith City Council's new sporting and recreation destination in Claremont Meadows. Our landscape design draws on the site's natural features, strengthening its connection to the local environment and surrounding community. This award-winning project delivers a long-awaited recreational hub for the area, with its official opening featured on Channel 9 News.

A destination for every generation

The former landfill site has been transformed into an open recreation and sporting reserve which caters for the wider Penrith Community. The 32-hectare precinct features activities and options for all ages and abilities, providing;

four full size rectangular fields and one junior size field
two full size cricket / AFL ovals with synthetic wickets
two netball courts
four lane district-level cricket practice facilities
children’s playspaces including water play and nature play areas
youth zone with floodlit skate park, pump track - the first in Sydney’s west – and multi-sport courts
outdoor fitness equipment for all ages
off-leash floodlit dog park, with separate areas for small and large dogs
pedestrian connections
walking trails
an amenities building equipped with a canteen, multi-purpose area, change rooms, storage space and accessible toilet facilities
passive recreation, picnic and viewing areas, including barbeques, shelters and public art
and more than 500 car spaces, including accessible spaces and coach drop-off/parking

Our design prioritises protecting and enhancing the site’s vegetation and ecological environments

The presence of capping and landfill necessitated careful consideration to avoid potential adverse effects during construction and ongoing park usage. Through meticulous planning and design, our landscape architecture team developed a solution that respected the site’s environmental constraints while enhancing its ecological value. The existing vegetation and ecological environments were diligently protected and integrated into the overall design, achieving a harmonious balance between human activities and the preservation of natural habitats.

NSW Deputy Premier and Minister for Western Sydney, Prue Car said it was fantastic to see this landmark destination on track to open before the school holidays. “This recreation precinct will be a hub of activity, bringing our community together like never before.”

“The Gipps Street Recreation Precinct is a game-changer for all of Penrith, but particularly for those living on the eastern side of the Local Government Area from Claremont Meadows to Colyton. It’s going to be a hub that draws in the community and visitors for organised sports, an afternoon out with the kids, morning workouts, weekend gatherings, birthday celebrations, and everything in between.”

Councillor Todd Carney, Mayor of Penrith

Client

Penrith City Council

Location

Darug Country

Claremont Meadows, NSW

Scale

32ha

Discipline

Urban Design, Architecture

Studio

Sydney

Awards

2025 Parks and Leisure Australia - National Community Facility of the Year
2025 Parks & Leisure Australia - NSW/ACT Regional Awards of Excellence - Community Facility of the Year
2025 Australian Sport, Recreation and Play Innovation Awards - Outdoor Sport and Leisure Facility Design
2025 UDIA NSW Awards for Excellence, Social and Community Infrastructure (Finalist)

Collaborators

Northrop Consulting Engineers, Glascott Landscape and Civil, Architects of Arcadia (Playground Consultant), Convic (Skate Park), Dirtz (Pump Track)

Photography

Simon Wood