Sydney Is Getting Its Own Central Park
And Your Daily Walks Are About to Get a Serious Upgrade
It starts innocently enough.
A morning walk that turns into a loop.
A loop that turns into a habit.
A habit that quietly saves your mental health.
Sydney is about to hand you 20 hectares of that.
In a move that feels equal parts overdue and quietly revolutionary, the NSW Government has unveiled plans for Moore Park South, a $50 million transformation of the existing Moore Park Golf Course into one of the largest new public green spaces Sydney has seen in decades.
Think Central Park energy.
Less Manhattan chaos, more eucalyptus and Lycra.
Still room for golf.
Now also room for everyone else.
A Backyard For 790,000 People
By 2041, close to 790,000 people will live within five kilometres of Moore Park South. That makes it one of the densest catchments in the country. Until now, most of them have been circling the same few green corridors, footpaths and parks like it’s leg day forever.
Moore Park South is designed to change that.
This isn’t just a park. It’s a pressure valve.
A place to walk off stress.
Ride off cortisol.
Sit down and stare at a tree without being charged for oat milk.
Planning Minister Paul Scully summed it up neatly when he described the project as creating “a backyard for one of the densest communities in Australia.” Translation: more green space equals better physical health, better mental health, and fewer people screaming internally on Oxford Street.
Image Credit: Artist impression of Moore Park South | Office of Paul Scully MP
So What’s Actually Going In?
A lot. And importantly, it’s not just for golfers anymore.
Once complete, Moore Park South will include:
• A 20 hectare public parkland footprint
• Running, walking and cycling paths stitched through the site
• Picnic areas and open lawns designed for actual humans, not just Instagram
• A community sports field
• A public 9 hole golf course
• A 90 bay driving range
• An 18 hole short form mini golf course
• Put putt facilities
• Expanded access points and safer connections through the precinct
Yes, golf stays.
But it finally shares the stage.
What Happens To The Existing Golf Course?
The current operating licence for Moore Park Golf Course and Driving Range expires in June 2026. That’s the key date.
From there, the site transitions into Moore Park South, with staged public openings planned before the end of 2026, and full completion targeted for late 2028.
So no, the grass doesn’t disappear overnight.
This is a gradual evolution, not a demolition.
Golf remains part of the identity.
It just stops being the only one.
Why This Matters More Than You Think
This is not a vanity project.
It’s not a sculpture park.
It’s not a new precinct with five cafes selling the same smoothie.
Urban green space is one of the most evidence backed public health interventions available.
Access to parks is linked to:
• Lower stress and anxiety
• Better cardiovascular health
• Improved sleep
• Increased daily movement
• Reduced depression risk
• Stronger community connection
In plain terms, this is preventative healthcare disguised as grass.
And unlike a gym membership, it doesn’t expire.
Image credit: Artist impression of park plans at Moore Park. Image: NSW Government/Supplied - Proposed walking and cycling paths through Moore Park South
Public Consultation Has Just Wrapped
Moore Park South recently completed its public consultation phase, which ran from late October through to November 24, 2025.
Locals and future locals were invited to weigh in on walking paths, shade coverage, seating, access points and design details. That feedback is now with planners, shaping how the park will actually function once construction begins.
This is the part where the ideas stop floating and the concrete starts setting. Literally.
The Bigger Picture
Sydney has spent years talking about liveability while quietly shrinking the amount of space where you can just exist without spending money.
Moore Park South pushes back against that.
It says movement matters.
Mental health matters.
Green space matters.
And maybe, just maybe, a city works better when not every square metre is monetised.
Public parks do not need a loyalty program.
They just need to exist.
