Great public spaces

Great public spaces

Quality green, open and public spaces are important to everyone. They are our free parks, gardens and sports fields, walkable shady streets, libraries, museums and galleries, which form the heart of our communities. Our public spaces make life more welcoming and accessible. They delight and connect people. They support our health and well-being, environmental resilience and prosperous local economies. Public spaces are all places publicly owned or of public use, accessible and enjoyable by all for free. They include our open spaces, public facilities and streets. They’re at the heart of everyday life.

People with access to green and public places are healthier and happier than those who don’t. For many people living without a lush backyard, the parks and green spaces in our towns and cities are vital to maintain both physical and mental health.

To help you find a local public space in your area, visit our ePlanning Spatial Viewer. The public spaces layer shows the location of known open spaces and public facilities across NSW.

To achieve the Premiers Priority ‘Greener Public Spaces’ target we are delivering a range of exciting projects across NSW, including eight new and improved parks across Sydney, along with co-funding inclusive play spaces through the Everyone Can Play program with local Councils.

Communities across NSW are using public spaces differently as a result of COVID-19, to ensure safe physical distancing alongside the ability to exercise. Find out more about how you value and are using public space COVID.