Our parks, playgrounds and natural areas are at the heart of life in Clarence — places to play, relax, connect and enjoy the outdoors.

Our Natural Spaces

From the Meehan Range and hilltop bushland reserves to our beaches, rivulets and coastal trails, Clarence is surrounded by stunning natural landscapes. These areas support diverse habitats — forests, bushland, wetlands and coastal environments — and are home to a wide range of native plants and animals.

Many of these spaces are right on our doorstep, with easy access through walking tracks, trails and foreshore paths. They not only provide places to explore and unwind but also help our city stay healthy and resilient as the climate changes.

👉 View the Natural Areas Strategy (PDF) to learn how we care for these environments and jump to our Reserve Activity Plans for management information on each location.

Our Playgrounds and Parks

We’re proud to look after 68 public playgrounds of all sizes across Clarence — including childcare play spaces, outdoor exercise areas, skate parks and a seniors’ exercise area. Across these sites we maintain and renew more than 330 pieces of play and exercise equipment.

Each year, our teams carry out regular maintenance, safety checks and a full annual audit to plan and prioritise upgrades. Most play equipment lasts around 20 years before it’s due for renewal, and we have an ongoing program to keep our play spaces safe, inclusive and fun.

Playground Renewals 2025–2026

These playgrounds are scheduled for renewal as equipment reaches the end of its life (subject to change if urgent works arise):

  • Opossum Bay Park, Opossum Bay – Combination unit (see project consultation)
  • Simmons Park, Lindisfarne – Liberty swing replacement (see project consultation)
  • Blessington Street Park, South Arm – Renewal of all equipment, combining play areas into one larger space, with minor landscaping and path upgrades.
  • Malunna Park, Lindisfarne – Renewal of all equipment.
  • Mortyn Park, Howrah – Replacement of double swing frame and swing rocker.
  • Vela Park, Howrah – Renewal of all equipment.

Monitor renewal updates on the works page.

Upcoming Projects 2025–2026

  • Bayview Park and Playground – Full renewal of play equipment plus park upgrades, including a new picnic shelter, barbecues, footpaths, carpark and landscaping. A new public toilet block will open November 2025. Visit the Bayview Park consultation on Yoursay.

Recent Renewals 2024–2025

  • Richmond Village Green, Richmond – New slide tower
  • Poplar Park, Risdon Vale – New swing frame and seats
  • Wentworth Park (toddlers area) – New swing frame and rocker
  • Opossum Bay Park – New swing frame, see-saw rocker and spinner

Find your local park
Find your local reserve

Reserve Activity Plans

A key recommendation in the Clarence Bushland and Coastal Strategy was to develop, implement and periodically review Reserve Activity Plans for all Clarence Bush and Coast Reserves.

As a result, since 2012 Clarence has both developed and partially implemented over 20 Reserve Activity Plans (RAPs), which feature a detailed prioritised works program which can be carried out by either Council staff or recognised volunteer groups.

Every year Council invests significant funding to implement activity programs from the RAPs and also provides grants to Landcare or Coastcare groups to implement activities listed in their local RAP.

The development of RAPs is based around an extensive community consultation program which includes two separate letters with response sheets to all local residents. These letters are advertisements in the local Eastern Shore Sun newspaper and on the Council website as well as an informative Reserve Report Card.

This Consultation program aims to gather the local community’s interests and preferences as a means to not only encourage strong ownership in the development, but importantly, foster enthusiasm towards carrying out the implementation of the plans

View the Reserve Activity Plans

Iconic Parks Master Plans

See also: