As Brisbane prepares for 2032, there is a growing opportunity, perhaps even a responsibility, to reimagine what our parks can be. They are no longer just green buffers or backdrops to big events – they’re becoming something much more: places where daily life unfolds, where stories are told without words, and where the character of the city quietly reveals itself.

In this broader vision for the public realm, parks are not just leftover spaces; they are the heartbeat of local life. They are where Brisbane’s identity comes into view and can be completely redefined to reflect our love for the outdoors.

More than open space

When we talk about parks, we shouldn’t be talking about emptiness. Instead, we should be talking about possibility. The most successful public spaces aren’t necessarily the biggest or the newest; they’re the ones that feel inhabited, loved and layered. Parks that shift with the rhythm of their neighbourhoods and invite people in, over and over again.

New Farm Park is a magnificent example. It isn’t remarkable because it is manicured; it is remarkable because it is alive. Grandparents linger under fig trees, kids lose hours in the playground and, just across the Powerhouse, locals stream through the markets, grabbing a bite to eat, ducking into Mary Mae’s Café or strolling along the riverfront. The edges are porous, the energy is shared. It is a park that feels owned, not by the city, but by its people.

Forge_Brisbane Powerhouse.jpg — *View of the Brisbane Powerhouse with jacarandas in full bloom*

That kind of intimacy doesn’t happen by accident. It comes from thoughtful design and materiality based on a deep understanding of place, people, and purpose. From a knotted hardwood bench under just the right tree. From whimsical play spaces that spark imagination across generations. From comfortable amenity that makes you linger and whispers “…stay a little longer”.

Shade enables everything else

Hand in hand with any conversation about the future of Brisbane’s parklands is shade. Even in winter, shade isn’t an option – it is essential for comfort and also longevity. It’s what makes our parks usable across the seasons, across demographics and across the full arc of every day. Without it, people pass through. With it, they settle in, bringing all manner of social and economic benefits as they do (just ask surrounding small businesses).

Of course, when shade is done well, it provides more than mere protection from the elements. It frames views, guides movement, and makes places memorable. Think about the shelters at Bokarina Beach Park on the Sunshine Coast, each carefully designed to draw inspiration from the natural surrounds and aligned to make the most of the coastal setting. They offer rhythm and character without competing with the backdrop. They invite use, as well as interpretation. That is the magic of bespoke outdoor structures – they work hard to transform a ‘space’ into a ‘place’, but they do so with quiet authority.

Forge_Bokarina Beach Park Shelters - AECOM.jpg — *Bokarina Beach Park Shelters, designed in collaboration with AECOM*

In Brisbane’s Olympic precincts, this kind of shade can help to shape how parks are identified and used for years to come. Sculptural forms can become markers; places to meet, rest or orient yourself. Shade can become social infrastructure, and when it is well considered, it will stay relevant long after the closing ceremony.

Daily use is the real legacy

Designing the city’s Olympic precincts should not be simply about making grand gestures but also supporting the everyday by considering the smaller things that don’t make headlines. Like kids learning to ride a bike, teens gathering after school, or families hosting birthday parties under a canopy of trees.

And again, there’s economic value in this too. People draw people. Parks with foot traffic breathe life into nearby small businesses; think corner cafés, weekend markets and local grocers. New Farm Park isn’t just a park; it is a generator of local activity. That model can be replicated, scaled, and adapted throughout Olympic-adjacent precincts.

Mega-events inevitably shape cities in bold ways but the real legacy lies in how these places serve communities day to day. Brisbane has the chance to build a parkland precinct that lives beyond the Olympics, learning from places like Sydney Olympic Park that continue to evolve 25 years on.

A park is a story waiting to be told

There is something powerful about public spaces that hold stories – some told openly, others tucked quietly into corners, waiting to be found. The best parks don’t impose meaning; they allow people to shape their own. A sculpture hidden in the trees. A path that winds without a strict destination. A swing that creaks with childhood memories.

Forge_Casuarina Park at Woodbury - ASPECT Studios.jpg — *Casuarina Park at Woodbury, designed in collaboration with ASPECT Studios for Fiteni*

When we think about parks as part of Brisbane’s Olympic legacy, we shouldn’t be asking how to make a mark on the city. We should be asking how we create spaces where people can make their own.

A great park holds memories, it sparks rituals, it becomes part of how we live. This is Brisbane’s moment to lead with care, creativity, and intent – to design not for crowds, but for communities. Not just for 2032, but for every ordinary day after.

Let’s not aim to impress the world for only four weeks. Let us aim to inspire an entire generation.

Main image: Bokarina Beach Park Shelters, designed in collaboration with AECOM

Architecture & Design Team

FORGE

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