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McGilp Recreation Park upgrade to get underway this spring

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McGilp Recreation Park upgrade to get underway this spring
Published 2 August 2024
An exciting upgrade to the popular McGilp Recreation Park at One Tree Hill is set to get underway this spring.

An exciting upgrade to the popular McGilp Recreation Park at One Tree Hill is set to get underway this spring, featuring enhanced amenities to improve the athlete and spectator experience at the site.

Council’s transformation of the township’s major sport and recreation facility includes an extension to the oval, new changeroom facilities, resurfacing of the tennis courts, formalised parking for easy access, the addition of a bike track to the informal recreation space along with improved spectator amenities such as seating.

The extension to the oval will allow for both a full-sized senior and a full-sized junior soccer pitch to be accommodated at the site, which means whole-of-club game days can be held at One Tree Hill.

The new changerooms will be available to tennis, cricket and soccer players, and the new bike track will add another recreation opportunity for locals and visitors.

Mayor Glenn Docherty said the upgrade will transform the park into a centre for sport in the close-knit One Tree Hill community.

“Investing in this central community space means that a range of sports have the capacity to grow and flourish in One Tree Hill,” the Mayor said. “The One Tree Hill Soccer Club will be able to hold both junior and senior matches simultaneously at the park, which is a real win for players.

"This project is equally important for locals who use the space for informal outdoor activities,” the Mayor continued. “The addition of the bike track will provide another outdoor activity for young people in One Tree Hill, with the oval and playground already a popular meeting place for families.”

Located adjacent to the park, the upgrade will also improve access for the One Tree Hill Primary School community, whose students utilise the oval for play time, and for overflow parking.

The upgrade to the park was identified as part of Council’s blueprint for the township, which was developed in conjunction with the One Tree Hill community.

“Through this process, the interests of residents and land and business owners were captured. It was clear that the community wanted to see long-term improvements at McGilp so the space would continue to cater for different sports, activities and ages, the Mayor said.

“We know that this upgrade has been highly-anticipated by locals, and we are excited to get construction underway to deliver an improved space for the community to enjoy.”

Council received a contribution of $1.5 million towards the project, on behalf of the Office for Recreation, Sport and Racing, with Council funding the balance of the upgrade through its Annual Business Plan & Budget.

Member for King, Rhiannon Pearce, whose seat covers One Tree Hill, was integral in securing the $1.5 million commitment.

“McGilp Oval is a cornerstone of One Tree Hill,” said Ms Pearce. “For generations it has supported a healthy, active and connected community across a plethora of sports and activities.

“I am pleased that the Malinauskas State Government has been able to work collaboratively with the City of Playford to ensure it is able to continue supporting the community for generations to come.

“This is a win thanks to the hard work of the local community, who have been working with us to fight for this much-needed upgrade.”

Construction on site is expected to commence at the end of August, and is anticipated to be completed in mid-2025. Sport and community clubs located at the park will have temporary relocations during construction. Traffic along McGilp Road will also be impacted throughout the construction period, with all affected stakeholders, including the One Tree Hill Primary School, to receive regular updates on changes to access during the period.

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