New parks and sports facilities

380,000 square metres new open space
19 MCGs worth of space created
1.8 million seedlings, trees and shrubs planted

When you think about roads and train lines, you’re probably thinking about concrete, steel and bitumen. But we know that Victorians want to see more green spaces in their communities, and more places to be active outdoors.

So when we’re working on road and rail projects as part of Victoria’s Big Build, we use every opportunity to also create new open space and sports facilities.

Read on to find out what’s been built in your area.

Elevated view of a large playground, constructed from natural materials - basket swing, climbing apparatus, castle-shaped slide and BBQ area. An elevated train line is beside, and native plantings surround it. — Coburg: Nature-based playground beside Moreland Station on the Upfield Line.

People playing table tennis and basketball at night, in a colourful and well lit space under a rail bridge. — Carnegie: Table tennis tables and a half basketball court under the Cranbourne/Pakenham Line.

A smiling 13-year-old boy in a blue jumper stands holding a skateboard, in front of a cement skate park, under an elevated train line. — Werribee: 13-year-old local Baker Bitton, who helped design the new skate park created under the Werribee Line.

Many people - children and adults - in a large playground beside a train line on an embankment. — Seaford: Playground in RF Miles Reserve, created when Seaford Road was lowered under the rail line.

Outdoor bouldering equipment covered in rock-climbing grips, including vertically oriented logs and large geometric shapes. An elevated train line in the background. — Noble Park: Parkour and bouldering equipment next to the Cranbourne/Pakenham Line.

A grassy, fenced, off-leash dog park, sitting underneath an elevated train line. A pedestrian is walking along a path beside it. — Noble Park: A fenced off-leash dog-park under the Cranbourne/Pakenham Line.

A hilly BMX track, next to a playground and covered sitting area. A V/Line train passes over an elevated bridge behind. — Stratford: Pump/BMX track and playground at Apex Park, with a Gippsland Line train behind.

Several children play in a paved playground area underneath an elevated train line. The equipment is made from large square-cut logs. — Malvern: Playground at Tooronga Park.

Melbourne’s west

The skaters of Werribee now have a new arena to practice their moves. When the Werribee Street level crossing was removed, it created the perfect spot for a new skate park directly under the rail bridge.

Over in North Williamstown, around the new station, you’ll find a table tennis table amid new open space for the community.

Coming up: By 2025, people across Melbourne’s west will have close to 90,000 square metres of new parks and wetlands built on previously industrial land, as part of the West Gate Tunnel Project.

Melbourne’s north

When 4 level crossings were removed in Coburg in 2021, it freed up a huge strip of land under the elevated train line. Walking between Coburg and Moreland stations, you’ll find an off-leash dog park, playgrounds, gyms, table tennis tables, half basketball courts, and skate and parkour areas. The award-winning playground at Moreland Station is a young train fan’s dream – they can explore the nature-inspired playground, while watching the trains pass overhead.

Coming up: In 2023, locals in Preston will be trading in 4 level crossings for almost 60,000 square metres of new open space. Between Bell and Preston stations we’re building 2 new nature-based playgrounds, plus an amphitheatre, outdoor gym and BBQ area.

Melbourne’s east

When the level crossing at Toorak Road was consigned to history, it created the perfect opportunity to build a new park. Tooronga Park in Malvern has welcomed a brand-new playground and fitness equipment.

Lilydale locals now have a new informal place to get together at the heart of their transport hub, under the Maroondah Highway rail bridge. Look out for the bright orange and yellow colour scheme, designed to match the Victorian stone in the station precinct.

Coming up: There’ll be a massive 50 MCGs worth of open space created across Melbourne’s east as part of North East Link works, including new, revived and reconnected parklands.

Melbourne’s south east

After the Cranbourne/Pakenham train line was raised to remove 9 level crossings, the community was given a new linear park that’s a massive 220,000 square metres in size.

Between Caulfield and Hughesdale, table tennis tables and full-size basketball/futsal courts explain why locals say the project has brought the community together. Off-leash dog parks can be found under the train line in both Clayton (Haughton Road) and Noble Park (Lightwood Road), with plenty of space for scampering and sniffing. In Clayton South, there are basketball and table tennis facilities.

In Carnegie, the community asked and we delivered a new playground in the new Woorayl Street playground. We also updated Girdwood Avenue with exercise equipment and a new sports area with line markings for basketball, netball, foursquare and hopscotch.

Along the Frankston line, Carrum and Seaford are home to some impressive new playgrounds. And to green-up the spaces created after the rail works, we’ve planted more than 180,000 trees, plants and grasses.

To come: Parkdale will live up to its name, with new facilities including a basketball half-court, open-air gym and nature-based play areas when the level crossing at Parkers Road is removed.

Regional Victoria

In Gippsland, local primary school students provided expert help to design a brand new nature-based playground and BMX/pump track at Stratford’s Apex Park. This sits alongside the new Avon River rail bridge used by Bairnsdale-bound trains.

Coming up: Over in Geelong, there’ll be 20,000 square metres of new public space, as we duplicate the train line between South Geelong and Waurn Ponds.