Nandi and County Road reserves at Frenchs Forest and Belrose set for $9m makeover

The first glimpses of a proposed $9m makeover of two popular parks on the northern beaches have been revealed. See the photos.

A well-used sports field and a bush reserve popular with walkers will be given massive makeovers at a total cost of $9 million.

The NSW Government has set aside the money to build new public facilities at the County Road Reserve at Belrose and to revitalise its soccer pitch.

And the 12-hectare Nandi Reserve at Frenchs Forest will also benefit from the funding made available through the government’s “Parks for People” program.

An artist's impression of one of the proposed nature walkways and play spaces within Nandi Reserve, Frenchs Forest. Picture: NSW Government

The bush reserve, sandwiched between Wakehurst Parkway and Nandi Ave, is crisscrossed with unofficial walking paths and has Trefoil Creek running through it.

As part of the refurbishment, access for the public will be improved with a proposed new pedestrian entry on Frenchs Forest Rd.

The designers of the draft plans wrote on a Planning Department website that they wanted to create “journeys throughout the site, allowing people to gather, spaces for quiet reflection, and play elements that are in harmony with the natural setting”.

An artist's impression of the upgraded facilities at County Road Reserve at Belrose. Picture: NSW Government

The plans include a network of raised boardwalks along with exercise loops, accessible pathways, lookouts and rest points as well as cultural awareness and interpretation points.

“These interventions will also make the site more safe for visitors,.” the designers stated.

A nature play space was also proposed.

“Working closely with environment experts as well as local First Nations leaders, there are also opportunities to introduce fauna crossings and enhancements to nesting sites,” the designers wrote.

“Connecting the site to country through activities such as cultural burning are being explored.”

At County Road Reserve, new toilets and changing rooms were proposed along with the upgraded soccer field and a new playground that included access to children with disabilities.

There will also be “discovery and learning walkways’ in neighbouring bushland as well as a multipurpose playing court that could be used as an overflow car park.

Planning Minister Anthony Roberts said the designs of the refurbished reserves came after lengthy community consultation.

The proposed landscape plan for the upgraded County Road Reserve, Belrose. Picture: NSW Government

“I’m blown away by the designs we’ve come up with, together with the community – they’re clearly the local experts when it comes to designing our parks,” Mr Roberts said.

“These parks will be a legacy for generations to come, combining the vision and ideas of local residents with innovative design to deliver great spaces that give the community even more reason to love the place they live.”

Construction of all the two parks was expected to begin by mid-2022.