Penrith recreation and splash park wins environmental stewardship award

The Gipps Street Recreation Precinct at Penrith has won the Environmental Stewardship Award at the 2025 Parks and Leisure Australia National Awards of Excellence.

Chris Bowser, general manager of Waterplay Australia, says the Waterplay-designed splash pad, which makes up part of the recreation facility, is now one of the precinct’s most popular attractions played a key role in the project’s success.

“The Waterplay area at the Gipps Street Recreational Precinct shows how thoughtful design can deliver both beauty and brilliant play,” says Bowser.

“Since opening in August 2024, this sustainable, community-centred splash pad delivered in partnership with Glascott Landscape and Civil and Parkequip has become a much-loved local landmark, and more importantly, is embraced by families every day.”

Developers transformed the 32-hectare former waste site into a vibrant recreational hub featuring sports fields, youth play areas, nature play zones and the Waterplay splash pad which anchors the children’s play space.

IMAGE: The Waterplay area at the Gipps Street Precinct (Supplied, Waterplay)