Open space is a highly valued asset by residents and visitors to Ipswich and contributes significantly to the city's character, lifestyle, health, biodiversity and economy. There are significant benefits credited to the provision of open space with far reaching benefits and advantages to communities.

Open space is fundamental to people being able to participate in recreational and sporting activities. It also creates desirable neighbourhoods that lead to healthy and attractive places to live. Quality open space is also integral to environmental protection and can provide notable opportunities for economic development. Additionally, open space plays a major role in improving both physical and mental community health, reducing crime, stimulating economic growth and boosting property value, as well as establishing a sense of ownership and belonging to local communities, attributes known to improve the wellbeing of individuals and communities.

The Ipswich City Council Open Space and Recreation Strategy sets the direction for open space and recreation in the city and provides an overarching strategic direction for recreation, sport and natural areas which incorporates and aligns with the current public parks network and planning framework (maintained through council's public parks strategy and local government infrastructure plan).

This strategy proposes a ten-year implementation period and has been developed in consideration with what we know about the city's open space, our understanding of the local community's preferences to different open space types, the functions of council and it's capacity to deliver the infrastructure required to meet community needs and future demand.

View the City of Ipswich Open Space and Recreation Strategy (PDF, 10.6 MB)