Brenan Park facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Brenan Park |
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Brenan Park entrance sign
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| Type | Urban park, sports ground, nature reserve |
| Location | Smithfield, Western suburbs of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia |
| Area | 20 hectares (49 acres) |
| Etymology | John Ryan Brenan |
| Operated by | Fairfield City Council |
| Open | 24 hours |
| Status | Open all year |
Brenan Park is a big park in the western suburbs of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. It covers about 20 hectares (that's like 20 football fields!). This park is mostly used for sports. It also has open grassy areas, natural bushland, and fun places to relax. You can find many native plants here, like eucalyptus trees. The park is named after John Ryan Brenan, who started the town of Smithfield way back in 1836. Brenan Park was created in the early 1980s and is one of the largest parks in the City of Fairfield.
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Park History
The idea for Brenan Park first appeared on a map in 1838. This map was for a market town planned by John Ryan Brenan. The area was meant to have houses and a market. Its unique triangular shape was designed to offer great views of the area. However, the houses were never built.
For many years, until 1980, the site was used for waste disposal. In 1981, it was declared unhealthy for building. After that, the land was cleaned up and turned into the beautiful park we see today.
Where is Brenan Park?
This park is located in the suburb of Smithfield. It's surrounded by busy roads like Cumberland Highway, Brenan Street, and Bourke Street. These roads and nearby houses help keep an eye on the park. Most of the buildings around the park are single-story homes.
Brenan Park is on high ground, so it gets a lot of sun and wind. The highest parts of the park are about 44 meters above sea level. From these high spots, especially near Bourke Street, you can see amazing views of the wider western Sydney area. You might even spot the Sydney central business district far away!
Plants and Animals
Brenan Park is full of native Australian trees and shrubs. You'll find many different kinds, like Melaleuca quinquenervia (near the tennis courts) and Eucalyptus moluccana (near the car park). There are also Casuarina glauca, Callistemon viminalis, Paperbark trees, Acacia, and Lomandra. Many of these trees have big canopies that give lots of shade.
Along Bourke Street and near Cumberland Highway, there's a thick line of trees and shrubs. This creates a nice entrance to the park. Most of the park is covered in grass. The trees in Brenan Park are a reminder of the original Cumberland Plain Woodland. This forest covered most of the Fairfield area before European settlers arrived. There's also a dry, shrubby bushland area in the south of the park, close to Cumberland Highway.
The corner of Brenan Street and Cumberland Highway is a great spot for birdwatching. Many different bird species come here to find food. You can often see pigeons, ravens, magpies, galahs, and crested pigeons. They often gather in groups to eat food from the ground. However, it's best not to feed the birds yourself.
What Can You Do at Brenan Park?
Brenan Park has lots of cool things to do!
- Sports: There are six tennis courts, nine soccer fields (six are full-sized!), and three cricket pitches. You can also find baseball and softball diamonds.
- Play and Relax: Kids can enjoy three different playgrounds. There are also picnic areas with barbecues, perfect for a family day out.
- Exercise: The park has an outdoor gym and a 2 km (about 1.2 miles) walking track. You can walk or cycle all the way around the park.
- Open Space: When the sports fields aren't being used, the open areas are great for flying a kite or other fun activities.
The park is lit up at night, so you can use it even after dark. There are also buildings with a community hall, toilets, kiosks (where you might buy snacks), and change rooms. Sports teams, schools, and community groups often rent the sports fields and community hall.
Sports Clubs at the Park
Several local sports clubs use the fields at Brenan Park:
- Smithfield RSL Cricket Club
- Smithfield RSL Soccer Club
- Fairfield Patrician Brothers Soccer Club
- Smithfield RSL Baseball Club
Images for kids
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Brenan Park is easy to spot in this aerial view of south-western Sydney because of its unique triangular shape.
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A bushland area in the southern part of the park.
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Cumberland Highway as seen from the Brenan Park walking track.
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A sloped, shrubby area near the walking track in the south of the park.
