GAME ON AT GARSIDE: REVIVING AN ICON

When Parramatta City Council set out to refresh Garside Park, they called on the experts: John Graham from Greater West Landscapes and the team at Felton Industries. The brief? To reimagine this historic, multi-purpose space as a welcoming, community-first environment where players and spectators can relax, cheer and comfortably connect.

As one of the city’s oldest recreation grounds, Garside Park long lacked cohesion and a strong sense of place. A regular host of footy matches, weekend games, and community events, a thoughtful upgrade was overdue to deliver a place to gather, linger and love. The goal was simple: turn Garside Park into a vibrant, people-first hub at the heart of the community.

Seating that Makes Sense

The key challenge? Fitting spacious, practical seating into a tight layout – making it feel effortless and intuitive. The brief called for a grandstand that could stretch along an existing pathway without interrupting the flow or overwhelming the space.

Spectator comfort and player functionality were non-negotiable. It had to endure all-weather, high-use and weekend crowds – all while staying on budget, on time, sharply designed and meeting community expectations.

The usual balancing act of budget, timeline, and community expectations were all in play – all while hero-ing design. Not just about adding seats, the project was about getting the right seats in the right places, with details that lifted the whole look and feel of the park.

A Grandstand Performance

Felton’s 9-metre Deluxe Grandstand was the hero of the upgrade – custom-built to run seamlessly along the park’s layout, adding generous seating with clean lines and thoughtful detail. A 6-metre Select Grandstand balanced out another area of the site, boosting crowd capacity where it counts.

For players, two streamlined 12-person Soccer Team Shelters delivered shade, shelter and smart design. Their curved roofs and rust-resistant frames tick the practical boxes, while open sightlines keep the crowd in the game.

The result? A pitch-side refresh with equal parts function and finesse – lifting the standard for community sports spaces that get form and function on the same team.

Every detail considered. Every seat has a purpose. This is great design in action.

For more information, visit Felton Industries via the links below