Ivanhoe Park landscape concept design with youth space

Last year, the community helped shape a landscape plan to guide future upgrades at Ivanhoe Park. The Western precinct, the land closer to the corner of Lower Heidelberg Road and the Boulevard intersection, is a priority area in Council's Ivanhoe Sports Precinct Plan, which also includes converting existing tennis courts to netball courts and adding a small amenities building.

Through this feedback, the community shared their ideas for a youth space, with strong support for a social space and a small pump track. Using this feedback, a draft concept design for the western precinct has been developed for a new youth space, along with new netball and pickleball courts, improved paths, and updated landscaping across the park.

The draft concept design aims to encourage young people to use the space while protecting the park’s natural environment and local character. It includes a mix of social and active spaces to suit different ages and interests.

Key features of the draft concept design include:

  • Keeping existing significant trees and planting new trees and garden areas
  • Improving access around the site with new accessible (DDA) paths and stepped seating
  • Two new netball courts, with line markings that also allow for up to six pickleball courts
  • A new amenities building to support the courts and provide shether
  • A small new pump track - wheeled play for all ages eg. scotter, skateboard and bikes.
  • Shaded areas and terraces for relaxing and informal use.

Share your thoughts on the western precinct draft concept design. Your feedback will help shape the final design.

Ivanhoe Park western precinct draft concept design and renders

Draft concept design
Conceptual render
Artists render showing pump track, paths and open space with the netball courts in the background.
Conceptual render
Artist rende rof netball courts and pavilion
Section A
Section B

Get involved

Other ways to get involved

  • Hardcopy survey

    Request a hardcopy survey until 19 April 2026

    Esther Ziebell, Senior Open Space Officer
    Phone: 9422 6186 or email: esther.ziebell@banyule.vic.gov.au


  • Talk with Council staff

    Contact Esther to book a 30 minute conversation (by phone or online) about Ivanhoe Park.

    Phone: 9422 6186 or email: openspaceplanning@banyule.vic.gov.au

Final Landscape Plan

Take a look at the final landscape plan for Ivanhoe Park.

Ivanhoe Park final Landscape Plan with legend

Planned upgrades

View the upgrade works planned for Ivanhoe Park.

In the next year, we will:

  • Demolish the existing caretakers house and return the area to open space (late 2025).
  • Improve functionality and accessibility of the carpark, including accessible parking spaces and bicycle parking (early 2026).
  • Develop a concept for new outdoor youth spaces for local young people (early 2026).
  • Upgrade general amenity to the west of park including new paths and renovated garden beds and lawn (2026).
  • Finalise youth spaces design and start construction (2026).

In the next five years, we will:

  • Decommission the existing public toilet and build new public toilets as part of the Banyule Public Toilet Plan.

The federal government has committed funding to help implement some of the actions from the Ivanhoe Sports Precinct Implementation Plan including:

  • converting the existing tennis courts into netball courts
  • upgrading the Croquet Club.

Note: Timing of the netball courts and Croquet Club upgrades is subject to federal funding.

Stage 1 Engagement

Community engagement

Thank you for your feedback on the draft landscape Plan and new youth spaces for Ivanhoe Park.

Throughout May and June 2025, we informed community members and stakeholders of the upcoming works at Ivanhoe Park, gathering insights and harnessing local knowledge to ensure that community feedback was considered and incorporated into the final Landscape Plan. During this time, over 200 people completed an online survey, shared a story or had an in-person conversation about delivering Ivanhoe Park upgrades.

View the full findings report which summarises the engagement objectives, methodology and findings.

What we heard

The following key themes were important to the community:

  • Safety and accessibility

  • Celebrating the existing character of the park

  • Getting the youth space right

Community feedback on the draft landscape plan has informed decision making by:

  • Proposing locations of new paths and entry points
  • Determining the location/s for the new outdoor youth space
  • Determining the type/s of youth space that would work best in Ivanhoe Park
  • Confirming a location for a new public toilet
  • Shaping the design direction of landscape improvements in the west of the park.

Stage 1 Interactive map

View how our community use Ivanhoe Park!

All feedback has been considered in the development of the final Ivanhoe Park Landscape Plan which will guide the staged delivery of park improvements over the next few years.

Background

Ivanhoe Park is a well-loved open space in East Ivanhoe that includes a neighbourhood playground, BBQ facilities, seniors exercise area, public toilet, extensive planting, an oval and cricket nets, making it a great place for families to gather and enjoy outdoor activities.

It's home to several sporting clubs including Ivanhoe Football Club, Ivanhoe Junior Football Club, East Ivanhoe Bowling Club, Ivanhoe Croquet Club, Ivanhoe Tennis Club and group outdoor personal training.

Council is going to deliver upgrades to Ivanhoe Park as part of the Ivanhoe Sports Precinct Plan and the Banyule Youth Space Plan. We heard from community during the development of these plans and this year we shared a draft Landscape Plan with community for feedback.

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