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 large park in the western suburbs of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. It covers about 20 hectares (50 acres), which is like 20 football fields! This park is mostly a sports area, but it also has open grassy spaces, natural bushland, and fun places to relax. You can find many native plants here, including tall eucalyptus trees.
The park is named after John Ryan Brenan. He was the person who started the suburb of Smithfield way back in 1836. Brenan Park was built in the early 1980s. It is one of the biggest parks in the City of Fairfield area. It's also one of the largest green spaces in Western Sydney that isn't a golf course.
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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 park's unique triangular shape was designed to offer great views of the area. At one point, the land was meant for houses and a market. However, those plans never happened.
Before it became a park, the site was used for waste disposal until 1980. It was then declared unsuitable for building in 1981. After that, the land was reshaped and turned into the beautiful park we see today.
Where is Brenan Park?
Brenan Park is located in the suburb of Smithfield. It is surrounded by major 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.
The park sits on high ground, making it a bit windy sometimes. The highest parts of the park are about 44 meters (144 feet) above sea level. From these elevated spots, especially near Bourke Street, you can see amazing views. You might even catch a glimpse of the Sydney central business district far away!
Plants and Animals
Brenan Park is home to many native Australian trees and shrubs. You'll find different kinds of plants here. For example, there are Melaleuca quinquenervia trees near the tennis courts. Eucalyptus moluccana trees grow near the car park on Brenan Street. Other common plants include Casuarina glauca, Callistemon viminalis, Paperbark, Acacia, and Lomandra. Many of these trees have big canopies that offer lots of shade.
Along Bourke Street and near Cumberland Highway, there are many trees and shrubs planted close together. These plants create a welcoming entrance to the park. The park's soil is quite deep, about 1 meter (3 feet). The trees in Brenan Park are a reminder of the original Cumberland Plain Woodland. This type of forest covered most of the Fairfield area before European settlers arrived. There's also a dry, shrubby bushland area in the southern part of the park, close to Cumberland Highway.
Birdwatching in the Park
The corner of Brenan Street and Cumberland Highway is a great spot for birdwatching. Many different kinds of birds come to this area to find food. You can often see Pigeons, ravens, magpies, galahs, and crested pigeons. They often gather in groups, especially pigeons and ravens, to feed on the ground. Please remember that feeding birds is not encouraged in the park.
Things to Do at Brenan Park
Brenan Park has lots of fun things to do! It features:
- Six tennis courts
- Nine soccer fields (six are full-sized)
- Three cricket pitches
- Baseball and softball diamonds
- Three playgrounds for children
- Picnic areas with barbeque facilities
- An outdoor gym
- A 2-kilometer (1.2-mile) walking track that goes around the whole park. You can also cycle on this track.
The park has wide-open spaces perfect for flying kites or other activities when sports fields are not in use. The park is also lit up at night, so you can use it after dark. There are buildings with a community hall, toilets, small shops (kiosks), and change rooms. Many local groups, schools, and sports clubs rent the sports fields and community hall. These facilities were even used for important community services in the past, like health testing.
Sports Clubs at the Park
Several 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
Gallery
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A bushland in the park's southern vicinity.
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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 to the south of the park.
See also
