From forgotten corners to weekend destinations: how Geelong's parks are being remade

Geelong's parks are no longer what they used to be. Where grass verges once sat empty on weekends, locals now gather for picnics, yoga sessions, and evening drinks. The shift isn't accidental. Over the past decade, the city has poured resources into redesigning public green spaces, and the payoff is visible in who's using them and how.

The change matters now because Geelong faces the same pressures hitting other Australian cities: property prices climbing faster than wages, younger households choosing rental living, and work-from-home arrangements that blur the line between home life and public space. Parks fill that gap. When your apartment is 55 square metres, a well-maintained public garden becomes extension of your living room. City council planners know this. They're betting that investing in grass and trees will slow the drift of young professionals to Melbourne.

Investment where it counts

Start at Johnstone Park in the heart of the CBD. Five years ago, the space between Malop Street and Gheringhap Street felt like a forgotten corner-empty benches, neglected gardens, minimal reason to linger. The council's $8.2 million overhaul, completed in 2024, changed that entirely. New drinking fountains, accessible pathways, and native plantings replaced the tired lawn. On any Saturday afternoon now, you'll find groups camped on the revamped lawn area, laptops out, coffee in hand.

Then there's Eastern Park, Geelong's oldest public reserve at 38 hectares. The Friends of Eastern Park volunteer group and council worked together on a $3.1 million restoration project that wrapped up in early 2025. They added water play areas for kids, upgraded the walking trail network, and installed proper lighting along Brock Avenue-a move that actually extended the park's usable hours into evening. The changes sound modest until you see them: families now arrive at 6 pm on winter weekdays to walk the lit paths instead of staying home.

Waterfront parks have seen equal attention. The Geelong Waterfront precinct, managed by the Geelong Waterfront Authority, continues expanding its green infrastructure along Corio Bay. The addition of 12 hectares of parkland between The Esplanade and the CBD in 2023 created a genuine reason for locals to make the walk from downtown rather than just passing through.

The numbers tell the story

Council monitoring shows foot traffic in major parks increased 34% between 2022 and 2025-a significant jump that outpaces population growth. Usage of Johnstone Park specifically jumped 41% in the 18 months following its reopening. That's not just morning joggers. Casual observation shows the demographic has broadened: retirees, young families, remote workers, and teenagers all use the spaces now, at different times and for different reasons.

The property market connection is real too. Houses within 400 metres of upgraded parks have seen median prices climb 12% faster than comparable properties further away, according to local real estate data. That's not coincidence. Renters actively search for proximity to good parks. Buyers factor in the amenity.

For residents wondering where to focus their outdoor time, the upgrades mean you're no longer limited to the Waterfront if you want a quality park experience. Johnstone Park works for quick lunches. Eastern Park handles longer visits. Smaller pocket parks-like the refurbished space on Gheringhap Street between Moorabool and Bellerine streets-suit grabbing a coffee and a bench for 20 minutes. The variety means there's something for every household type and schedule.

The next phase is already in motion. Council is currently planning upgrades to Kalimna Park in Manifold Heights and has allocated $2.4 million for the project, with work due to start in 2027. If history repeats, that neighbourhood will look very different in two years. The lesson is clear: Geelong's parks aren't background scenery anymore. They're the infrastructure that determines where people actually want to spend their time.