Crawford Oval in Princes Park is getting a major renewal with new fields and lighting.
Crawford Oval renewal works started in early April and will continue through to early 2026, transforming the Princes Park space into a larger multipurpose sports facility.
City of Melbourne is upgrading the oval to accommodate two soccer fields and one AFL oval, replacing the existing turf with a new surface designed to support heavy use across multiple sports.
Four new energy-efficient LED light towers will be installed alongside a new drainage and irrigation system to keep the turf healthy year-round. Crawford Oval renewal also includes new goal posts and footings, with the cricket pitch being removed and replaced with natural turf to create a more versatile sporting space.
Crawford Oval renewal (Princes Park)
- Works started April 2025
- Expected completion early 2026
- Princes Park, Melbourne
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Access to Crawford Oval will be blocked for the duration of the project, with temporary fencing installed around the site. Works will run between 7am and 5pm Monday to Friday, with occasional Saturday work between 8am and 3pm. Machinery and noise levels will increase during construction, though measures will be in place to reduce these impacts.
This transformation aligns with City of Melbourne’s Fair Access Sport and Recreation Allocation and Use Policy, which aims to provide women and girls with more opportunities to participate in community sport and equitable access to facilities. By removing the cricket pitch and creating a multipurpose field, the oval will cater to a wider range of sporting activities.
Four Moreton Bay figs will be removed to allow for the essential upgrades, but 10 new trees will be planted nearby as part of the Urban Forest Strategy, enhancing the park’s green space and ensuring long-term environmental benefits for the community.
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