View source for Brenan Park

{{Short description|Urban park in Sydney, Australia}}
{{Use Australian English|date=June 2017}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2017}}
{{Infobox park
|name          = Brenan Park
|image         = Brenanpark.jpg
|image size    =
|photo_caption = Brenan Park entrance sign
|type          =  [[Urban park]], [[sports ground]], [[nature reserve]]
|location      = {{NSWcity|Smithfield}}, [[Western Sydney|Western suburbs]] of [[Sydney]], [[New South Wales]], Australia
|coords        = {{coord|33.8581|S|150.9300|E|format=dms|display=inline,title|region:AU-NSW_type:landmark}}
|map =
| map_caption =
|map_width =
|area          = {{convert|20|ha|acre|0}}
|plants        =
|species       =
|collections   =
|etymology     = [[John Ryan Brenan]]
|opened        = {{start date|1981|df=y}}
|owner         =
|operator      = [[Fairfield City Council]]
|budget        =
|visitors      =
|status        = Open all year
| open = 24 hours
}}
'''Brenan Park''' is a {{convert|20|ha|acre|0|adj=on}} [[urban park]] situated in the [[Western Sydney|western suburbs]] of [[Sydney]], [[New South Wales]], Australia.<ref name=King>{{cite book |author=Michael King & Associates |publication-date=1997 |title=Recreation Needs Assessment Study prepared for Fairfield City Council }}</ref> Primarily categorised as a sports field, the reserve contains an open [[grassland]], [[bushland]] and [[recreational area]]s within the vicinity of native plants, such as [[eucalyptus]] trees. It is named after [[John Ryan Brenan]], who founded the suburb of [[Smithfield, New South Wales|Smithfield]] in 1836.
[[Built environment|Artificially terraced]], Brenan Park was established in the early 1980s and it is one of the largest reserves in the [[City of Fairfield]], and one of the largest non-golf course green spaces in the Western Sydney region.<ref name=Smithfield>{{cite book |publisher=[[Fairfield City Council]] |date=February 1999 |title=Know your suburb |work=Smithfield Fairfield City Council }}</ref>
==History==
The shape of Brenan Park appears on the first survey design, in 1838, of the [[market town]] sketched for John Ryan Brenan.<ref>{{cite book |author=George, V. |year=1991 |title=Fairfield – A History of the District |edition=Second |publisher=[[Fairfield City Council]] }}</ref> Brenan Park was planned to be a housing subdivision and a market area in 1938, with its triangular shape fashioned to take advantage of the topography and views of the surrounding district. The housing subdivision was never constructed.
The site was used as a sewage disposal depot and landfill until 1980, where it was proclaimed as unhealthy building land in 1981. Subsequently, it was re-landscaped and eventually developed into a reserve.<ref>{{cite book |author=Clouston |year=1999 |title=Fairfield Open Space Strategy prepared for Fairfield City Council }}</ref>
==Geography==
The [[nature reserve|reserve]] is located in the suburb of Smithfield, and is bordered by [[Cumberland Highway]], Brenan and Bourke Streets, which all give good passive [[surveillance]] opportunities from close residences and contiguous roads. The park's surrounds are mainly single-story houses.<ref>{{cite book |publisher=[[Fairfield City Council]] |publication-date=1999 |title=Strategic Plan for Fairfield City 1999-2010 }}</ref>
Brenan Park is in an [[elevated]] and [[microclimate|weather-exposed]] location, with the highest areas being {{convert|44|m|ft|0}} {{AHD}} and those near the Cumberland Highway at {{convert|32|m|ft|0}}. The elevated regions in the park are situated alongside Bourke Street, where they would provide a panoramic view of the [[Greater Western Sydney|greater western Sydney]] area and even the [[Sydney central business district]].<ref>{{cite book |publisher=[[Fairfield City Council]] |publication-date=1994 |title=Local Environment Plan }}</ref>
==Ecology==
Indigenous trees and shrubs are abundant in the park, with dominant vegetation species being ''[[Melaleuca quinquenervia]]'' (near the tennis courts), ''[[Eucalyptus moluccana]]''
(near the car park in Brenan Street), ''[[Casuarina glauca]]'', ''[[Callistemon viminalis]]'', [[Paperbark]], ''[[Acacia]]'', ''[[Lomandra]]'' and ''[[Eucalyptus bosistoana]]'', most of which have large canopies that provide shade.<ref>{{cite book |author=Woodward Clyde Environmental Consultants |date=1992 |title=Environmental reports in Brenan Park Property Files for Fairfield City Council }}</ref>
The boundary along the top part of Bourke Street and near Cumberland Highway is thickly planted with an [[Avenue (landscape)|avenue]] of trees and shrubs, which provide a sense of entry to the park. The park is predominantly made up of [[sod]] and it lies on residual soils that are {{convert|1000|mm|in|0|adj=on}} deep. Its trees represent a link to the [[Cumberland Plain Woodland]] that covered most of Fairfield local government area before [[History of Australia (1788–1850)|European settlement]]. There is a shrubby, dry [[sclerophyll]] [[bushland]] area to the south of the park, near Cumberland Highway.<ref>{{cite book |publisher=[[Fairfield City Council]] |publication-date=1999 |title=Management Plan for Fairfield City 1999-2003 }}</ref>
The corner of Brenan Street and Cumberland Highway provides good viewing site for [[birdwatching]] as dozens of bird species flock to the area to feed. [[Pigeon]]s, [[Australian raven|ravens]], [[Australian magpie|magpies]], [[galah]]s and [[crested pigeon]]s are common sightings in the park, and can be seen in flocks feeding off ground food, most especially pigeons and ravens. Bird feeding is not encouraged in the park.<ref>{{cite book |author1=Fairley, A. |author2=Moore, P. |publication-date=1995 |title=Native Plants of Sydney District – an identification guide |publisher=Kangaroo Press |location=Sydney }}</ref>
==Features==
[[File:Brenanpark1.jpg|thumb|240px|The [[Open space reserve|open fields]] of Brenan Park.]]
The park features six tennis courts, nine soccer fields (six which are full-sized), three cricket pitches, baseball and softball diamonds, three children's playgrounds, picnic areas (with barbeque), an [[outdoor gym]] and a {{convert|2|km|mi|adj=mid|-long|abbr=on}} walking track (shared with cycling) that circuits the park. The park has open space which can be used for [[kite|kiting]] and other activities when they are not being used for sport.<ref name=King/>
The park is [[floodlit]] and can be used at nights. Amenity blocks include a community hall, toilet facilities, [[kiosk]]s and change rooms. The sports fields and the community hall are hired to a number of community groups, schools and clubs.<ref>{{cite book |publisher=[[Fairfield City Council]] |date=December 1999 |title=Vision for Fairfield }}</ref> These facilities have been used for [[COVID-19 testing]].{{cn|date=November 2023}}
===Clubs===
The sports fields are hired by these sporting groups:
* Smithfield RSL Cricket Club
* Smithfield RSL Soccer Club
* [[Patrician Brothers' College, Fairfield|Fairfield Patrician Brothers]] Soccer Club
* Smithfield RSL Baseball Club
==Gallery==
<gallery>
Brenanparkbush.jpg|A bushland in the park's southern vicinity.
Brenanparkcumberland.jpg|Cumberland Highway as seen from the Brenan Park walking track.
Brenanparkslopes.jpg|A sloped shrubby area near the walking track to the south of the park.
</gallery>
==See also==
{{stack|{{portal|New South Wales|Environment}}}}
*[[Wetherill Park Nature Reserve]]
*[[Fairfield Park Precinct]]
*[[Western Sydney Parklands]]
*[[Central Gardens Nature Reserve]]
*[[Rosford Street Reserve]]
==References==
{{Reflist}}
{{Sydney landmarks}}
{{Nature reserves of New South Wales |state=autocollapse}}
{{Parks in Sydney|state=autocollapse}}
[[Category:1981 establishments in Australia]]
[[Category:Parks in Sydney]]
[[Category:Nature reserves in New South Wales]]
[[Category:Protected areas established in 1981]]
[[Category:Sports venues in Sydney]]
[[Category:Remnant urban bushland]]
[[Category:Buildings and structures completed in 1981]]
[[Category:Parks established in the 1980s]]
[[Category:City of Fairfield]]