Sydney’s New 60-Hectare Park Is Expanding With Walking Trails, Lookouts And Bike Tracks

Sydney’s newest mega parkland is continuing to expand, with major new recreational facilities now officially underway at the former Hornsby Quarry site.

Set across roughly 60 hectares, Hornsby Park is gradually being transformed from a disused industrial landscape into one of Sydney’s biggest public green spaces—complete with sweeping lookouts, walking trails, cycling paths and large-scale community recreation zones.

And now, the next stage of the redevelopment is pushing ahead.

Construction has officially begun on the new Old Mans Valley Field of Play precinct, bringing plans for sports fields, bike tracks, parking facilities and open green space a step closer to reality.

Can’t wait? Jump to:

• What Is Hornsby Park?
• What’s Planned For The New Precinct?
• When Will The Next Stage Open?

What Is Hornsby Park?

Like many of Sydney’s large-scale urban renewal projects, Hornsby Park has had a pretty dramatic former life.

The site was previously home to the former Hornsby Quarry—a massive industrial excavation that operated for decades before closing in 2002. Since then, the enormous quarry void has undergone years of remediation and planning, with Hornsby Shire Council gradually transforming the space into a long-term public parkland project.

The vision is ambitious: a sprawling recreational precinct that blends preserved industrial heritage with bushland, walking trails, lookouts and large open community spaces.

The first completed section of the park officially opened to the public last month, unveiling the Crusher Plant Precinct, Southern Lookout and Heritage Steps for the very first time.

Set against the dramatic quarry backdrop, the area combines restored industrial structures with elevated viewing areas, landscaped pathways and expansive open space overlooking the towering quarry walls—and it's only the beginning.

What’s Planned For The New Precinct?

The newly underway Old Mans Valley Field of Play precinct is set to become the major southern gateway into the wider Hornsby Park development—and there’s a lot coming.

Plans include a multi-purpose sporting field, large recreational green spaces and new community facilities like change rooms, public toilets and storage amenities. But one of the biggest drawcards has to be the dedicated bike pump and jump tracks.

Purpose-built for riders of varying skill levels, the tracks will feature rolling rises, dips and jumps designed for recreational riding and skill-building alike. Artist impressions also show landscaped gathering spaces and improved pedestrian connectivity throughout the area.

Parking upgrades will also form part of the development, alongside improved access routes linking visitors into the broader parkland network. As the wider project evolves, more walking and cycling trails, recreational zones and scenic lookouts are expected to progressively open across the former quarry site over the coming years.

One of the most striking parts of the redevelopment is the contrast between old and new—the preserved industrial quarry infrastructure sits directly alongside fresh green space, bushland and panoramic viewing areas.

When Will The Next Stage Open?

Construction on the Old Mans Valley Field of Play precinct is currently expected to wrap up by mid-2027, weather permitting.

The project has also received major backing through the Australian Government’s Thriving Suburbs Grant Program, which contributed more than $12 million towards the development.

As works continue across the wider site, additional sections of Hornsby Park are expected to progressively open to the public—slowly transforming the former quarry into one of Sydney’s most ambitious new public green spaces.

Image credit: Architects AJC | Instagram