Public parks in NSW are vital to community wellbeing, offering spaces for recreation, social engagement and environmental resilience. They are increasingly becoming sites for social interactions, where the public can connect with nature and with one another.

But not all aspects of park use are positive. Alongside the benefits, they can also harbour negative activities, sometimes referred to as the “dark side” of parks. These include antisocial behaviour including vandalism, substance abuse and violence, making parks feel unsafe, particularly for vulnerable groups including youth in disadvantaged neighbourhoods.

Australian governments have implemented various policies aimed at improving both the accessibility and environmental sustainability of public spaces, including parks, as part of broader urban renewal and climate resilience strategies. The NSW Government’s “Public Open Space Strategy”, “Social Impact Assessment Guideline” and environmental sustainability frameworks recognise that parks promote environmental health, social inclusion and wellbeing.

One significant gap in current NSW planning policy is the lack of a comprehensive framework for designing inclusive parks that specifically addresses the diverse needs of youth, particularly those in lower socio-economic areas. While there is some focus on general park accessibility and environmental sustainability, the current policies overlook how parks can be designed to meaningfully engage young people, ensuring they feel safe, included and connected to their community. Many parks do not cater to youth, particularly those at risk of antisocial behaviour, due to a lack of positive outlets or safe spaces for interaction.

By integrating green infrastructure strategies and addressing the dark side of parks, a framework can help policymakers create youth-friendly, sustainable parks.

Social challenges in NSW parks

Public parks in NSW should foster social, environmental and economic sustainability. We should create parks that promote community cohesion, inclusivity and meaningful social engagement.

For example, Centennial Park in Sydney has long been recognised for its effective design, which integrates active use zones, green infrastructure and ecological sustainability. The park’s sports fields, playgrounds, and cycling paths are in visible, central areas, making them inviting places for social interaction while also ensuring that park users naturally monitor and engage with the space. Similarly, Parramatta Park has been a model of how green spaces can promote community engagement while supporting environmental resilience, with its thoughtful integration of green corridors, native plants and water management systems.

There is a broader movement amongst local councils and the NSW Government to create more sustainable, inclusive and resilient public parks. Councils including Woollahra, Northern Beaches and Newcastle have made significant strides in implementing green infrastructure, prioritising both environmental and social sustainability in park planning.

Despite such bright spots, park design and management across NSW can be inconsistent, with varying levels of investment, policy development and community involvement. A more consistent, state-wide approach is needed that builds on the successes of individual parks and councils to create a unified framework for designing parks that serve all members of the community. This would not only ensure that parks across NSW are equitable, accessible and sustainable but also provide a model for other Australian governments to follow.

Young people in disadvantaged areas often face significant barriers in accessing safe, stimulating spaces for recreation and social interaction. In many neighbourhood parks, particularly those in disadvantaged areas, antisocial behaviours such as drug use, vandalism and violence can create environments that feel unsafe and unwelcoming, especially for vulnerable groups.

Community engagement must play a central role, with active involvement of local communities (and especially youth) in the planning, design and management of parks. An inclusive approach ensures that parks reflect the needs, preferences and concerns of the people who use them, fostering a sense of ownership and responsibility.

A policy framework for inclusive parks

Parks should be designed as multi-use, green spaces, blending recreational areas with natural features such as bioswales and rain gardens. These elements offer recreational opportunities while also improving the park’s ecological function, contributing to stormwater management and supporting local biodiversity. This approach makes parks more sustainable and helps build a connection to nature, fostering belonging among diverse visitors.

Tree canopies and shading are also crucial for the ecological health of parks and their social experience. Trees provide shade, reduce the urban heat island effect and create comfortable spaces for relaxation and social interaction. Shaded areas can be particularly important for vulnerable populations, including youth and elderly visitors, offering safety, privacy and comfort. These spaces encourage informal gatherings and spontaneous social connections.

Natural play areas are another key recommendation for fostering social connections. By integrating natural elements like trees, rocks, water features and sand, parks can offer dynamic, imaginative spaces that stimulate creativity. Natural play areas provide opportunities for both active and passive interaction, allowing children, youth and families to meaningfully engage with their surroundings and each other. These natural features also contribute to stormwater management, improve the park’s ecological health and increase overall environmental sustainability.

Developing green corridors and connectivity ensures that parks are accessible to all members of the community, promoting active transportation and environmental integration. These corridors connect parks to other green spaces, transport networks and urban areas, encouraging walking, cycling and public transit use. Green corridors also function as wildlife passages.

By designing parks to mitigate negative activities (the “dark side”), engage local youth and incorporate sustainable practices, we can create spaces that promote community cohesion and maximise safety for all. Implementing Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED) principles to increase natural surveillance and reduce opportunities for crime is a good place to start. Key measures include:

• Improved lighting: Ensure that parks are well-lit, particularly in areas where antisocial behaviour is more likely to occur, such as near secluded spots, skate parks or wooded areas. Bright, consistent lighting can deter criminal activity and make park users feel safer.
• Sightlines and open spaces: Design parks with open sightlines and fewer blind spots, ensuring that all areas of the park are visible from other parts. Fences, barriers and other elements that obstruct sightlines should be minimised or strategically placed.
• Active use zones: Design parks with areas where people are more likely to gather and engage in social activities. Active spaces like sports fields, playgrounds and skate parks should be located in visible and central areas, ensuring that they are well-patronised and monitored by users and passers-by.
• Community-oriented park management: Encourage community-based management strategies where local residents, particularly youth, are involved in maintaining and protecting their parks. This can include programs such as Western Sydney Parkland’s “guardians”, which allows youth to take responsibility for helping keep parks clean and safe.
• Youth-centred design and green features: Involve youth in the design and management of parks, particularly in the integration of green infrastructure, and engage youth in decision-making about the types of amenities they would like to see (e.g., skate parks, natural play areas, green spaces). Generating a sense of ownership can reduce the likelihood of antisocial behaviour.
• Environmental education and leadership: Offer youth-targeted environmental education programs that promote sustainability and encourage youth to take an active role in park maintenance, such as tree planting, wildlife monitoring or water conservation. These activities foster pride in community and reduce the likelihood of vandalism.
• Universal design principles: Apply universal design principles to ensure parks are accessible to everyone, including people with disabilities, seniors and youth. This includes accessible pathways, seating, signage and recreational spaces that cater to diverse abilities and needs.

Roadmap to inclusive parks policy

Successful implementation of park sustainability and social connection initiatives requires collaboration. Local government, urban planners, environmental groups, community organisations and residents should work together to create parks that serve the needs of all users. Policymakers should establish collaborative frameworks that actively involve youth and community members in the design and management processes.

Policymakers should also establish mechanisms to regularly assess parks, particularly in terms of achieving social and environmental sustainability goals. This includes evaluating park safety, usage rates and the effectiveness of green infrastructure in addressing climate change. Regular assessments will provide valuable data to inform ongoing improvements.

Securing funding for park development and green infrastructure projects should be a priority for local governments, leveraging resources from state programs, public-private partnerships and other avenues. Special attention should be given to under-resourced areas to ensure that equitable access to safe, sustainable parks is available to all communities, particularly those in low-income neighbourhoods.

Creating inclusive, sustainable parks that foster social connections requires a multi-faceted approach. Parks should serve as recreational spaces, hubs for community cohesion and environmental resilience.

Dr Parisa Ziaesaeidi is an architect with experience in both academia and industry. She is an architecture academic at Western Sydney University. She holds a PhD from the Queensland University of Technology in Australia. Her research interests focus on social sustainability, large and small-scale built environments and neighbourhood design. Parisa’s expertise in this area is reflected in publications in international journals, conferences, and architectural magazines, where she has established herself as an architectural journalist.

Image credit: Nikada, Getty Images Signature