Brenan Park

Urban park in Sydney, Australia

33°51′29″S 150°55′48″E / 33.8581°S 150.9300°E / -33.8581; 150.9300Area20 hectares (49 acres)Opened1981 (1981)EtymologyJohn Ryan BrenanOperated byFairfield City CouncilOpen24 hoursStatusOpen all year

Brenan Park is a 20-hectare (49-acre) urban park situated in the western suburbs of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.^[1] Primarily categorised as a sports field, the reserve contains an open grassland, bushland and recreational areas within the vicinity of native plants, such as eucalyptus trees. It is named after John Ryan Brenan, who founded the suburb of Smithfield in 1836.

Artificially terraced, Brenan Park was established in the early 1980s and it is one of the largest reserves in the City of Fairfield, and one of the largest non-golf course green spaces in the Western Sydney region.^[2]

History

The shape of Brenan Park appears on the first survey design, in 1838, of the market town sketched for John Ryan Brenan.^[3] Brenan Park was planned to be a housing subdivision and a market area in 1938, with its triangular shape fashioned to take advantage of the topography and views of the surrounding district. The housing subdivision was never constructed.

The site was used as a sewage disposal depot and landfill until 1980, where it was proclaimed as unhealthy building land in 1981. Subsequently, it was re-landscaped and eventually developed into a reserve.^[4]

Geography

The reserve is located in the suburb of Smithfield, and is bordered by Cumberland Highway, Brenan and Bourke Streets, which all give good passive surveillance opportunities from close residences and contiguous roads. The park's surrounds are mainly single-story houses.^[5]

Brenan Park is in an elevated and weather-exposed location, with the highest areas being 44 metres (144 ft) AHD and those near the Cumberland Highway at 32 metres (105 ft). The elevated regions in the park are situated alongside Bourke Street, where they would provide a panoramic view of the greater western Sydney area and even the Sydney central business district.^[6]

Ecology

Indigenous trees and shrubs are abundant in the park, with dominant vegetation species being Melaleuca quinquenervia (near the tennis courts), Eucalyptus moluccana (near the car park in Brenan Street), Casuarina glauca, Callistemon viminalis, Paperbark, Acacia, Lomandra and Eucalyptus bosistoana, most of which have large canopies that provide shade.^[7]

The boundary along the top part of Bourke Street and near Cumberland Highway is thickly planted with an avenue of trees and shrubs, which provide a sense of entry to the park. The park is predominantly made up of sod and it lies on residual soils that are 1,000-millimetre (39 in) deep. Its trees represent a link to the Cumberland Plain Woodland that covered most of Fairfield local government area before European settlement. There is a shrubby, dry sclerophyll bushland area to the south of the park, near Cumberland Highway.^[8]

The corner of Brenan Street and Cumberland Highway provides good viewing site for birdwatching as dozens of bird species flock to the area to feed. Pigeons, ravens, magpies, galahs and crested pigeons are common sightings in the park, and can be seen in flocks feeding off ground food, most especially pigeons and ravens. Bird feeding is not encouraged in the park.^[9]

Features

The park features six tennis courts, nine soccer fields (six which are full-sized), three cricket pitches, baseball and softball diamonds, three children's playgrounds, picnic areas (with barbeque), an outdoor gym and a 2 km-long (1.2 mi) walking track (shared with cycling) that circuits the park. The park has open space which can be used for kiting and other activities when they are not being used for sport.^[1]

The park is floodlit and can be used at nights. Amenity blocks include a community hall, toilet facilities, kiosks and change rooms. The sports fields and the community hall are hired to a number of community groups, schools and clubs.^[10] These facilities have been used for COVID-19 testing.^{[citation needed]}

Clubs

The sports fields are hired by these sporting groups:

Smithfield RSL Cricket Club
Smithfield RSL Soccer Club
Fairfield Patrician Brothers Soccer Club
Smithfield RSL Baseball Club

Gallery

A bushland in the park's southern vicinity.
Cumberland Highway as seen from the Brenan Park walking track.
A sloped shrubby area near the walking track to the south of the park.

References

^ ^a ^b Michael King & Associates (1997). Recreation Needs Assessment Study prepared for Fairfield City Council.
^ Know your suburb. Fairfield City Council. February 1999. {{cite book}}: |work= ignored (help)
^ George, V. (1991). Fairfield – A History of the District (Second ed.). Fairfield City Council.
^ Clouston (1999). Fairfield Open Space Strategy prepared for Fairfield City Council.
^ Strategic Plan for Fairfield City 1999-2010. Fairfield City Council. 1999.
^ Local Environment Plan. Fairfield City Council. 1994.
^ Woodward Clyde Environmental Consultants (1992). Environmental reports in Brenan Park Property Files for Fairfield City Council.
^ Management Plan for Fairfield City 1999-2003. Fairfield City Council. 1999.
^ Fairley, A.; Moore, P. (1995). Native Plants of Sydney District – an identification guide. Sydney: Kangaroo Press.
^ Vision for Fairfield. Fairfield City Council. December 1999.

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v t e Nature reserves of New South Wales, Australia
Central NSW	Abercrombie Caves Arakoola Avisford Barton Binnaway Boomi Boomi West Borenore Caves Boronga Brigalow Park Budelah Careunga Coolbaggie Copperhannia Dapper Donnybrook Dural Eugowra Freemantle Gamilaroi Girralang Jenolan Caves Kemps Creek Kirramingly Koorawatha Kuma Macquarie Marshes Midkin Mugii Murum-ban Munghorn Gap Narran Lake Pilliga Planchonella The Rock Tollingo Turallo Wambool Weetalibah Winburndale Woggoon Wongarbon Yaegl Yarringully
Hunter and Mid North Coast	Awabakal Baalijin Back River Bagul Waajaarr Bandicoot Island Bird Island Bollanolla Boonanghi Boondelbah Boorganna Bowraville Bretti Brimbin Bugan Burning Mountain Bushy Island Camels Hump Camerons Gorge Cedar Brush Coocumbac Island Coolongolook Cooperabung Creek Coramba Corrie Island Coxcomb Darawank Fifes Knob Fishermans Bend Gads Sugarloaf Ganay Garby Goonook Hexham Swamp Jaaningga Jagun Jasper John Gould Juugawaarri Karuah Kattang Khappinghat Khatambuhl Killabakh Killarney Kooragang Koorebang Kororo Lake Innes Limeburners Creek Little Broughton Island Macquarie Mernot Mills Island Moffats Swamp Monkerai Monkeycot Moon Island Moonee Beach Mount Seaview Muttonbird Island Ngambaa North Rock One Tree Island Pambalong Pee Dee Pulbah Island Queens Lake Rawdon Creek Regatta Island Running Creek Seaham Swamp Seal Rocks Skillion Snapper Island Stormpetrel Talawahl The Castles The Glen Tilligerry Tingira Heights Tomalla Towibakh Valla Wallabadah Wallamba Wallaroo Wallis Island Weelah Willi Willi Caves Wingen Maid Wingham Brush Worimi Yahoo Island Yarravel Yessabah
New England Tablelands	Aberbaldie Ashford Caves Bluff River Bolivia Hill Booroolong Burnt-Down Scrub Deer Vale Demon Duval Georges Creek Gibraltar Guy Fawkes River Imbota Ironbark Jobs Mountain Linton Little Llangothlin Mann River Melville Range Mother Of Ducks Lagoon Mount Hyland Mount Mackenzie Mount Yarrowyck Muldiva Ngulin Serpentine Severn River Stony Batter Creek The Basin Tuggolo Creek Watsons Creek Yina
Northern Rivers	Andrew Johnston Big Scrub Ballina Banyabba Billinudgel Boatharbour Broken Head Brunswick Heads Bungabbee Byrnes Scrub Captains Creek Chambigne Chapmans Peak Clarence Estuary Cook Island Couchy Creek Cudgen Cumbebin Swamp Davis Scrub Flaggy Creek Hattons Bluff Hayters Hill Hogarth Range Hortons Creek Iluka Inner Pocket Julian Rocks Koukandowie Limpinwood Little Pimlico Island Marshalls Creek Moore Park Mororo Creek Mount Neville Mount Nullum Muckleewee Mountain Munro Island North-West Solitary Island North Obelisk North Solitary Island Numinbah Richmond River Sherwood Snows Gully South West Solitary Island Split Solitary Island Stotts Island Susan Island Tabbimoble Swamp Tallawudjah Tuckean Tucki Tucki Tweed Estuary Tyagarah Ukerebagh Uralba Victoria Park Waragai Creek Wilson Wilsons Peak Woodford Island Wooyung
Outback NSW	Big Bush Boginderra Hills Buddigower Cocopara Goonawarra Gubbata Ingalba Jerilderie Kajuligah Kemendok Lake Urana Langtree Ledknapper Loughnan Morrisons Lake Mutawintji Narrandera Nearie Lake Nocoleche Nombinnie Pucawan Pulletop Quanda Round Hill Tarawi The Charcoal Tank Yanga Yathong
South Coast and Highlands	Araluen Badja Swamps Bamarang Barren Grounds Barrengarry Bees Nest Bell Bird Creek Belowla Island Bermaguee Bimberi Binjura Black Andrew Black Ash Bobundara Bogandyera Bondi Gulf Bournda Broulee Island Brundee Swamp Brush Island Burnt School Burra Creek Burrinjuck Cambewarra Range Cecil Hoskins Clarkes Hill Comerong Island Coolumbooka Coornartha Courabyra Cullendulla Creek Cuumbeun Dananbilla Dangelong Devils Glen Downfall Eagles Claw Egan Peaks Ellerslie Five Islands Flagstaff Memorial Good Good Goorooyarroo Gungewalla Hattons Corner Illawong Illunie Ironmungy Jerralong Jingellic Joadja Kangaroo River Kybeyan Meringo Merriangaah Montague Island Mount Clifford Mount Dowling Mudjarn Mullengandra Mundoonen Myalla Nadgee Nadgigomar Narrawallee Creek Nest Hill Ngadang Nimmo Numeralla Oak Creek Parma Creek Paupong Queanbeyan Quidong Razorback Robertson Rodway Saltwater Swamp Scabby Range Scott Stony Creek Strike-a-Light Tabletop Tapitallee Tinderry Tollgate Islands Triplarina Ulandra Undoo Wadjan Wanna Wanna Wee Jasper Wiesners Swamp Wogamia Wollondilly River Woollamia Worrigee Wullwye Yanununbeyan Yaouk Yatteyattah
Sydney and surrounds	Agnes Banks Bents Basin Berkeley Bird Island Castlereagh Central Gardens Brenan Park Chipping Norton Lake Cockle Bay Dalrymple-Hay Dharawal Evans Crown Fairfield Park Precinct Gulguer Grey Box Reserve Lion Island Lake Parramatta Long Island Lower Prospect Canal Reserve Manobalai Mulgoa Muogamarra Newington Pelican Island Pitt Town Prospect Nature Reserve Prospect Hill Rileys Island Rosford Street Reserve Spectacle Island Towra Point Wallumatta Nature Reserve Wamberal Lagoon Wambina Western Sydney Regional Park Wetherill Park Windsor Downs
Protected areas of New South Wales

v t e Parks and gardens in Sydney, Australia
In the Sydney local government area	Balfour Street Park Barangaroo Reserve Belmore Park Centennial Parklands Centennial Park Moore Park Chinese Garden of Friendship The Domain Hyde Park Jessie Street Gardens Macquarie Place Park Observatory Park Paddington Reservoir Prince Alfred Park Redfern Park Royal Botanic Garden Sydney Cove West Archaeological Precinct Sydney Park Victoria Park Wentworth Park Wild Life Sydney Wynyard Park
In all other local government areas	Anderson Park, Neutral Bay Angophora Reserve Astrolabe Park Auburn Botanic Gardens Australian Botanic Garden Mount Annan Ballast Point Balls Head Reserve Bede Spillane Gardens Ben Buckler Park Bents Basin State Conservation Area Berowra Valley Regional Park Bicentennial Park Birchgrove Park Bradleys Head Brenan Park Brickpit Ring Walk Burwood Park Carss Bush Park Centenary Park Centenary Square Centennial Parklands Centennial Park Moore Park Queen's Park Central Gardens Nature Reserve Chipping Norton Lake Coral Sea Park Fagan Park Fairfield Park Precinct Ferndale Park Fred Hollows Reserve Garawarra State Conservation Area Garigal National Park Garrison Point George Kendall Riverside Park Georges River National Park Grey Box Reserve Heathcote National Park Iloura Reserve Ivanhoe Park Joseph Banks Native Plants Reserve Kamay Botany Bay National Park Kellys Bush Park Koala Park Sanctuary Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park Lake Parramatta Reserve Lane Cove Bushland Park Lane Cove National Park Louise Sauvage Pathway Lower Prospect Canal Reserve Magdala Park McLeod Reserve Moore Reserve Moore Reserve, Oatley Mortdale Memorial Park Muston Park Nielsen Park Nurragingy Reserve Oatley Park Oatley Pleasure Grounds Oatley Point Reserve Oxford Falls Peace Park Parramatta Park Penrith Lakes Regional Park Petersham Park Prince Alfred Square Prospect Hill Prospect Nature Reserve Queen Elizabeth Park Rockdale Bicentennial Park Rofe Park Rosford Street Reserve Rowland Park St Leonards Park St Thomas Rest Park Sydney Harbour National Park Sydney Zoo Tania Park Taronga Zoo Terry Lamb Complex Wadim (Bill) Jegorow Reserve Wallumatta Nature Reserve Walter Burley Griffin Incinerator, Willoughby Waverley Cemetery Western Sydney Parklands Western Sydney Regional Park Wetherill Park Nature Reserve Yellomundee Regional Park Yurulbin Park
Parks and gardens in New South Wales