A growing urban community is now home to a new park featuring a three-level tree-top tower surrounded by trees and creeping vines that will encourage nature-inspired play.
The park features contemporary shelters and public amenities designed to complement the natural surrounds, as well as a mixture of established trees and open spaces, social spaces for barbecues and a variety of natural seating options.
Sunshine Coast Mayor Mark Jamieson said the first stage of construction on the Sippy Downs Forest Park created a place that provides green relief with mature trees and social opportunities.
“This new green heart services the needs of the evolving community and education precinct between the Sunshine Motorway and Sippy Downs Drive,” Cr Jamieson said.
“The District Level Park encourages the Sippy Downs community, as well as surrounding suburbs, to enjoy our thriving outdoors and importantly provides visual respite from the urban environment.
“It’s a council priority through the Recreation Parks Plan that our outdoor areas create gathering spaces which link people and place, foster community cohesiveness and improve mental health.”
Construction started on the west and east park areas in June 2022 and was completed last month, opening in time for Easter.
The middle section of parkland will be completed at a future stage and is subject to funding.
Division 6 Councillor Christian Dickson said creating a place that appreciated nature was an important part of developing a healthy, smart and creative region.
“I’m pleased to have Sippy Downs’ latest and greatest park open in time for the Easter school holidays,” Cr Dickson said.
“This is a place we can all gather and connect as a community and with nature in cooler, vegetated spaces.
“There are so many elements of this park I’m proud to see come to fruition, including the tree-top tower.
“The tower gives kids a bird-like feeling of being high among the trees, gazing over the forest park from their perch.”
Connecting pathways, intimate forest experiences, an outdoor classroom and discovery trails will also be interconnected throughout the forest park once the future stages of works are completed, providing for great bird-watching and learning experiences.
The new park can be accessed from Botanica Drive, Central Drive and High Street at Sippy Downs.
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