Banksia Playspace

Winner of the 2024 Park of the Year, Banksia Playspace in St Leonards is an engineering marvel as much as it is a playground. Built over the top of a railway cutting, this elevated park literally hovers above the train lines below, creating a unique elevated green space in one of Sydney's densest suburbs. The design transforms what was dead space above rail infrastructure into a community asset, and it's been executed beautifully.

The playground component is smartly designed for the space — climbing structures, swings, slides, and sensory elements are arranged across the elevated deck with safety barriers and thoughtful landscaping. The native banksia planting throughout gives the park its name and provides a green, natural feel despite being surrounded by apartment towers. There are sections for different age groups, with toddler-appropriate equipment alongside more challenging structures for older kids.

Banksia Playspace serves the rapidly growing St Leonards and Crows Nest apartment communities, where private outdoor space is minimal and families rely heavily on public parks. The response has been overwhelmingly positive — it's busy from dawn to dusk every day. The park includes seating areas, shade structures, and drinking fountains.

St Leonards station is essentially directly below — a 3-minute walk makes this possibly the most train-accessible destination playground in Sydney. Crows Nest's restaurant strip is a 5-minute walk for excellent food options. No dedicated car park — use surrounding street parking or station car parks. The innovation of building quality play space above rail infrastructure should be replicated across Sydney.