Toowoomba Regional Council is developing a concept plan for Smithfield Park, Harristown. The concept plan will be used to guide the future improvements of this park to a district-level standard.

The park, named after the heritage-listed 'Smithfield House', features manicured gardens that constitute aspects of the original, 300-acre residential setting and open space with play equipment, gas BBQs, picnic tables and seats, a playground and toilets.

Smithfield Park currently services the community as a Local Recreation Park and was identified as suitable to upgrade to a District Recreation Park and meet the demand of projected growth needs for the Harristown Catchment.

What's in a district recreation park?

District Recreation Parks are larger sized parks that can cater for more facilities and multiple activities in the one place, encouraging users to stay longer. District Recreation Parks cater to a broad range of end users, with embellishments typically including:

• Spaces for park activation: play, exercise, kick-about
• Spaces for passive recreation: picnicking, seating, shelters and barbeques
• Pathways (for pedestrians and cyclists)
• Associated park furniture including drink fountains, bins and bike racks
• Toilet facilities / amenities
• Tree and amenity plantings
• Fencing / bollards (if considered necessary to keep vehicles out of park)
• Park lighting (for night use)
• Car parking

Round 1 Community Consultation Summary

Council would like to thank everyone who provided feedback. Input from the feedback has been used to inform and develop the concept plan.

Following the first round of community consultation in early 2025, the majority of responses wanted to see the following included in the proposed park upgrade:

• Play equipment with a focus on quality play for toddlers and young children, including shade sails
• Infrastructure including improved picnic facilities, barbeques and toilets
• Paths including footpaths and bike paths, allowing for access to all facilities for all-abilities, and a walking loop
• Sporting equipment to encourage physical exercise

Of the set questions relating to what specific new infrastructure the community supported, over 50% of respondents were supportive of:

• Several smaller picnic gazebos
• Loop walking path
• An inclusive playspace catering for all-abilities

The intent of the park upgrade is to provide for the community's recreation needs in the suburb of Harristown. The concept plan will seek to respect the heritage area of the park by reducing infrastructure within this precinct and complementing it with additional gardens.

The concept plan proposes to move the recreation node away from heritage trees and locate closer to the oval / kickabout area.

Playground equipment will focus on all-abilities and feature equipment that is not found in neighbouring district parks (e.g. trampolines, large fort).

New vegetation and trees planted will have a focus on native species for habitat and shade.

You can view a copy of the Draft Concept Plan here.

Feedback closes Sunday, 15 June 2025.

Round 2 Community Consultation Summary

Council would like to thank everyone who provided feedback on the Draft Concept Plan for Smithfield Park, during the second round of community consultation in May-June 2025.

Council received overwhelming support for the draft concept, with over 90% of respondents indicating they generally supported the draft.

Feedback received has been used to refine the concept plan in the following ways:

• Paths
  • Reduced / removed where not considered necessary
  • Changed to create a larger loop where possible (of no impact to heritage trees)
  • Additional path and pram ramp connection to Brolga Crescent
  • Consideration for permeable pavement (decomposed granite paths) where suitable
• Materiality
  • Changes in response to heritage considerations
• Playground area and play elements
  • Partial enclosure of playground area using vegetation (existing and new)
  • Separation of soccer and basketball elements
  • Increase in play options for older children
• Car parking
  • Where possible, additional car parking spaced to be considered, budget depending

You can view a copy of the Final Concept Plan here.

Please note this park upgrade is in response to the Toowoomba Region Open Space Strategy and Local Government Infrastructure Plan requirements for recreation park upgrades and is not funded from general rates.