Regatta Park
- Details
- Written by: Teela Griffin Penrith City Council (02) 4732 7777 (02) 4732 7958 council@penrithcity.nsw.gov.au https://www.penrithcity.nsw.gov.au 601 High St Penrith NSW 2750 Australia
Regatta Park at the Nepean River has been transformed into the new focal point for nature, leisure and recreation and will further strengthen Penrith’s position as Western Sydney’s most liveable city.
A key feature of the park is a 112-metre pavilion with water play equipment, a sandpit, toilet amenities and kiosk. Council will seek to award an operator for the kiosk in the new year to further boost the appeal of the park and give people more dining options along the river.
Regatta Park also includes a fully-fenced adventure playspace, cricket oval, multi-use lawn space, shaded picnic and BBQ areas, outdoor fitness equipment, pathways and a central staircase leading to the river foreshore, over-water viewing platforms, kayak launch areas, new shared path, amenities building, 90-space car park, overflow car park, and 'The Penroglyph', a public artwork designed in conjunction with Darug custodians by Archibald Prize-winning artist, Blak Douglas.
Hundreds of new trees were planted across the precinct to provide natural shade and boost the green canopy in the Penrith Local Government Area as they mature.
Regatta Park was jointly delivered by Council and the Australian and NSW governments, which each contributed $7.5 million as part of the Western Parkland City Liveability Program.
The historic Police Cottage at Regatta Park has been restored and transformed into a café and restaurant, with outside seating that offers diners magnificent views of the Nepean River. Find out more here
Plan of Management for Regatta Park
FAQs
Why did Council upgrade Regatta Park?
Council undertook extensive community consultation on the Our River Masterplan in 2013, to provide a strategic framework for the management of the Nepean River and associated infrastructure. The plan proposes a shared vision to celebrate, activate and protect the Nepean River and outlines key actions to connect it with the City Centre, enhance its natural environment, and support active and healthy lifestyles while celebrating its rich history and cultural values.
The upgrade of Regatta Park was identified as a key priority during this consultation, with the community telling Council they wanted greater access to the Nepean River and an enhanced, green recreational space close to the river.
Council recognised the need to enhance both the eastern and western sides of the park and create better connections between the two sides to create an iconic recreational destination for locals and visitors to enjoy.
The Our River Masterplan is available to download from the documents section located on the right hand side of the screen.
What road changes were required as part of this upgrade?
Several changes were made to local roads to help increase pedestrian safety, improve traffic flow along River Road and provide better access to the Great Western Highway for residents and visitors.
- River Road, Emu Plains was realigned with Lamrock Street, Emu Plains.
- The Great Western Highway end of York Street, Emu Plains, was permanently closed in November 2022. Traffic is no longer able to turn into or out of York Street from the Great Western Highway.
- Relocation of bus stop approximately 50 metres west on Great Western Highway (heading West from Penrith towards Emu Plains).
