Earlier this year, plans to open a harbour swimming spot along the Bay Run were revealed, spelling big things for Inner West residents for the summer of 2026. Now, the NSW Government has announced that the swimming spot is just the start for the transformation of one of the Inner West’s beloved public backyards. Yesterday, a draft ten-year vision for Callan Park was released – laying out the park’s first-ever Plan of Management, and locals are being invited to check out the draft vision and have their say.
Already home to the Bay Run, Callan Park’s leafy expanse is one of Sydney’s biggest community playgrounds, offering space by the waterfront to picnic, play, exercise and unwind. But with the area’s population set to hit 415,000 by 2041, the park’s importance to the community is only going to grow – which is why the NSW Government is prioritising transforming Callan Park into a safer, more sustainable public space.
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Shaped by feedback from more than 2,000 locals, community groups and organisations, the draft blueprint has been designed to make the space more accessible, more welcoming and more connected to Country. Key pillars of the plan include clearing out derelict buildings to create more open space, restoring and reimagining heritage sites, improving cyclist and pedestrian safety, and exploring fresh opportunities for cafés, events and community activities. There’s also a big focus on biodiversity, with plans to protect habitats and better link the park to Sydney’s blue-green corridors.
Alongside the master plan, there’s a new draft Access, Movement and Parking Strategy – addressing what many locals said was their top priority: getting around the park. Proposals include a one-way loop road, consistent speed limits, more bike- and pedestrian-friendly infrastructure, and shifting public car access away from the Bay Run foreshore (meaning safer pathways and better links to surrounding suburbs).
Minister for Planning and Public Spaces, Paul Scully, says the goal is to “take the beloved Inner West parkland to the next level,” while Greater Sydney Parklands Chief Executive Joshua French calls this “an exciting step for the community to have their say on Callan Park’s future.”
If you’ve got a vision for how Callan Park should evolve, now’s the time to speak up. Both the draft Plan of Management and the draft Access, Movement and Parking Strategy are on exhibition until October 29, 2025.
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