Sydney’s north-west gets its bushland back with Bella Vista District Park

In the shadow of the North-West Metro line, on land once dominated by grazing paddocks and remnant bushland, a new public space is beginning to take shape.

Bella Vista District Park, a three-hectare development designed by Hassell on Dharug Country on Sydney’s north-western fringe, aims to bring back the character of the Cumberland Plain Woodland that once defined the region. It’s an ecosystem now considered critically endangered, having been cleared for agriculture and, later, suburban expansion across much of Western Sydney.

The design intent is for native grasslands to spread across much of the site, alongside a substantial tree canopy intended to offer shade, support local wildlife, and rebuild some of the biodiversity lost to decades of development. Elevated boardwalks and shaded trails will thread through the landscape, engineered with irrigation and shelter systems designed to keep the park usable and green throughout the year — not merely in the mild months.

But Bella Vista is not conceived purely as a nature reserve. Its design also carves out space for community life: play areas for children, a central green for informal gathering, and zones set aside for sport, adventure play and water-based activity. Elsewhere, terraced lawns and quieter, more secluded corners offer a counterpoint — spaces for rest and reflection rather than activity. A small amphitheatre has also been included, intended to host community performances and events.

Central to the park’s design is its grounding in Connection to Country principles, developed in consultation with Traditional Custodians, with First Nations learning experiences built into the final concept.

The plans did not emerge in isolation. More than 700 people contributed feedback earlier this year as the designs for Bella Vista and a neighbouring park were refined, in a process led by the Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure alongside Landcom, Sydney Metro, The Hills Shire Council, Traditional Custodians and members of the local community.

Construction is expected to begin in 2027, with both parks scheduled to open to the public the following year.

Hero image: Diorama