Hornsby Shire’s Fagan Park Children’s Forest wins National Award

Published on 18 November 2025

Hornsby Shire Council is proud to announce that the Fagan Park Children’s Forest has been awarded the 2025 Parks and Leisure Australia (PLA) National Award of Excellence for Playspace under $500,000. This prestigious award celebrates innovation, community impact, and the creation of play spaces that foster childhood development, while promoting vibrant, sustainable, and inclusive communities.

Delivered in collaboration with Fiona Robbbé of Fiona Robbbé Landscape Architects, the Fagan Park Children’s Forest was commended for its nature-based, educational design and its strong alignment with Council’s Urban Forest Strategy and Play Plan. Designed in close consultation with local schools, the space provides an immersive environment where children can connect with nature and learn about the value of trees.

This latest accolade follows a series of recognitions for the multi-award-winning project, including:

NSW PLA Award for Playspace under $500,000 earlier this year
AILA Landscape Architecture Award
Kidsafe Australia National Playspace Design Award

The Fagan Park Children’s Forest is the first park in New South Wales designed specifically to nurture children’s relationship with the natural world. It features:

Educational discovery pods
Timber animal interactions
Outdoor learning space and Yarning Circle
A pond with stepping stones
Grassed picnic areas and accessible pathways

children playing on stones

This innovative playspace serves as an educational model showcasing the importance of trees and biodiversity.

“Hornsby Shire is proud to lead the way in creating spaces that inspire children to connect with nature. The Fagan Park Children’s Forest is more than a playground, it’s a living classroom that encourages curiosity, learning, and a lifelong appreciation for the environment,” said Hornsby Shire Mayor Warren Waddell.

“Winning this national award is a testament to the vision and collaboration that made this project possible.”

This project is proudly funded by the NSW Government in association with Hornsby Shire Council.

Looking ahead, Hornsby Shire Council is excited to announce that a tree house, funded in part by a NSW Government Crown Reserve Improvement Fund Grant, is planned for construction within the Fagan Park Children’s Forest by Spring 2026, further enhancing this unique destination for families.

For further information on the Fagan Park Children’s Forest visit the webpage.