Melbourne park plans ramp up as council pledges $26 million for 13 new green spaces.
The City of Melbourne’s draft budget for 2026–27 commits more than $26 million to Melbourne park projects across the municipality. Its goal is to fast-track its transformation into the Garden City, with the draft Budget 2026–27 committing more than $26 million to deliver 13 new or upgraded parks and green open spaces.
The Melbourne park investment includes a $5 million allocation to accelerate projects across multiple neighbourhoods, from pocket parks in North Melbourne to expanded reserves in Southbank. Among the headline commitments is 2,500 square metres of new open space at the Chapman Street pocket park in North Melbourne, the expansion of the Miles and Dodds Street reserve in Southbank, and progress on the Normanby Road reserve expansion.
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New Melbourne park projects from North Melbourne to Carlton
A winding pathway through a Melbourne park lined with mature eucalyptus trees, red flower beds and purple flowering shrubs, with a red brick building visible to the left.
In Kensington, $6.4 million will transform a Chelmsford Street warehouse into a community space designed for relaxation, exercise, play and connection with nature and Country. Stage two of the $7.8 million University Square upgrade in Carlton is ramping up, and a further $5.5 million is allocated to deliver more than 5,000 square metres of new open space along the City Road Undercroft. Council’s previous budget committed $44.3 million to green space and the latest round builds on that trajectory.
The draft budget also advances planning for Market Square at Queen Victoria Market, described as the city’s largest new park. A new greener, pedestrian-friendly Franklin Street will link State Library Station to the market. The Greenline Project continues to gain momentum on the north bank of the Yarra River, with $4.4 million in federal government funding announced to continue the riverside transformation that began with the recent completion of works at Birrarung Marr.
3,000 new trees and accelerated greening
A person sitting on a park bench framed by autumn-tinged trees, looking out toward the Melbourne CBD skyline including the Eureka Tower and Southbank high-rises.
Council will aim to plant 3,000 new trees across the municipality and accelerate greening partnerships with the private sector and community groups. Lord Mayor Nick Reece said Melbourne is leading the way as Australia’s Garden City, with 13 new and upgraded green spaces delivered at record speed and scale.
Environment portfolio head Councillor Davydd Griffiths said residents have consistently called for a city that is green and alive. The investment responds to that demand, he said, with new open spaces, more trees and measures to protect the city’s existing parks and gardens. The council’s stated goal is to have open space within 300 metres of every home in the municipality, a figure that sat at 92 per cent as of the most recent count.
Melbourne park access and public consultation
Aboriginal Melbourne portfolio head Councillor Dr Olivia Ball said Melbourne is built on Wurundjeri and Bunurong Biik and highlighted the role of the council’s First Nations Ambassador, Margaret Parisi, and its narrap rangers in caring for Country. She said ensuring enough green open space near where everyone lives and works is a key way local government can support community health and wellbeing.
Melbourne has been converting underused road space into pocket parks across the inner suburbs in recent years, and the latest budget signals that pace will intensify. The draft Budget 2026–27 will be announced on 31 March, with public consultation open until 28 April.
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