Splash park helps Penrith precinct win community facility of the year award

The Gipps Street Recreation Precinct at Penrith has been named Community Facility of the Year at the 2025 Parks and Leisure Australia National Awards of Excellence.

Chris Bowser, general manager of Waterplay Australia, says the Waterplay-designed splash pad 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.”

The national award recognises facilities that deliver exceptional community impact, high-quality design, sustainability and excellence in project delivery. The Gipps Street Recreation Precinct demonstrates all these qualities.

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

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