Parks and gardens
Get back to nature and enjoy our parks, gardens and open spaces. They:
- help to improve health and well-being
- protect our natural and cultural heritage
- are a great tourism asset.
Organise a picnic with family and friends, play sport, socialise, walk and cycle.
Report a problem Park hire Playgrounds Memorials/ashes Public access
Our parks also host a range of events and festivals. Other uses include:
Maintaining parks and gardens
We maintain more than 400 parks across the Tweed, with 1,556 hectares of open space to take care of. Watch the video below to find out more and see our outdoor workers in action.
Casual park hire
Some of our parks and open spaces can be booked for casual use, including:
- baby naming ceremonies
- memorial/remembrance ceremonies
- team building activities
- other structured events
Bookings
Book well ahead to avoid disappointment - Casual park hire application form(PDF, 195KB) (this includes terms, conditions and restrictions)
A tentative booking can be made over the phone to secure a date and location, while we wait to receive your application.
Note: Holding a wedding in a park requires a different booking application, to find out more visit our park hire for weddings page.
Casual park hire does not allow exclusive use, all areas must be shared with other park users.
Loud music, excessive noise or inappropriate behaviour not be accepted. Wedding receptions, 18 and 21st birthday parties and other events with potential to create disturbance will not be licensed.
Park mowing
Mowing takes place on a schedule (a booking does not mean the area will be mowed).
Balloon ban in parks and sports fields
Visit Holding and promoting events - balloon ban for information regarding the ban on balloons in parks and sports fields.
Playgrounds
We have 86 playgrounds in the Tweed. Use our park finder tool to search for a playground.
If you have any concerns about play equipment in one of Council's parks, contact us.
Requests for shade over playgrounds
A number of shade structures have been tested without much success. They come loose and tear in strong wind and have been vandalised.
Shade is considered in the design of new playgrounds, with extensive planting of shade trees (it takes time before they provide full shade).
Memorial plaques and seats
Council receives many requests for plaques in areas of significance to lost friends and loved ones.
We understand the wish to remember people at places of significance to them, but it is not appropriate to have lots of individual memorials placed in our public reserves and parks.
To find out more, download our Policy - Private Memorials in Public Parks and Natural Areas(PDF, 148KB)
Council removes unapproved memorials.
Scattering of ashes
This practice is allowed in the Tweed. Please make sure the general public are not affected by ashes being scattered (be mindful of wind direction). Do not scatter near swimmers or beach users.
Naming of parks and gardens
Requests to name a Council park should be made in writing.
See Naming of Council Public Parks and Sportsfields(PDF, 121KB)
Access on or through public land
Council does not approve regular access through parks for the purpose of garaging vehicles and boats.
However, Council may allow temporary access to help property owners with deliveries (building materials, landscaping) or similar circumstances. You must have approvals in place before making any arrangements. Park keys will not be provided under any circumstances.
Please submit Temporary access to Council land(PDF, 40KB) a at least 10 working days before access is needed. Submitting an application means you agree to the conditions (and any special conditions). An approval will be issued listing the conditions for access.
Helicopter landings
Council does not allow helicopter landings on public open space in the Tweed, including parks, beaches and sportsfields.
Landings may be considered for:
- approved community events
- filming activities
- Council operations
- emergency services
Private, recreational and business requests will not be approved.
Open space strategy
The Open Space Strategy 2019-2029(PDF, 3MB) and Implementation Plan(PDF, 7MB) with appendices(PDF, 18MB)
For the purpose of the strategy public open space may include:
- parks (including foreshore reserves)
- sportsfields and courts
- natural areas such as bushland area, coastal areas, some foreshore reserves, wetlands, salt marshes and estuaries
- open space corridors for tracks, tails and pathways
- civic open spaces including streetscapes
- land reserved for infrastructure (e.g. drainage, road reserve or as a utility easement) where opportunities for recreation, the protection of biodiversity values and visual amenity are also provided.