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Some
schools
provide open space (e.g. ovals) as well as recreational facilities (e.g. gymnasiums) for use
by the broader community outside of school hours through formalised and unformalised shared use
arrangements. Schools can become important open space and recreational assets, especially in areas
that contain open space shortfalls.
Changes to schools, such as the installation of security fencing, new buildings on open space or the
rationalisation of a number of schools into a single site, can have a significant adverse effect on local
communities who rely on these sites for open space and recreational activities. For example, if
alternative spaces do not exist in the neighbourhood, some people may no longer undertake recreational
activities locally. This means that residents are less likely to be active and can also reduce local social
connections.
8.3.
Planning for these Assets
Western Adelaide and the eastern portion of the City of Port Adelaide Enfield is largely developed with
ageing open space and recreational infrastructure in some areas. This, along with renewed emphasis on
open space in the context of ongoing and projected population growth, has heightened open space
planning in the region.
In South Australia, the South Australian Planning Policy Library includes a standard ‘module’ relating to
open space and recreation. This module contains a number of guidelines which, amongst other things,
recommends that there should be a hierarchy of open space based on:
x
District level parks of at least 3 hectares in size located within 2 kilometres of all households.
