Extra spaces and safer access as Maitland Park car park expansion kicks off

newy.com.au – Maitland City Council has begun expanding parking at Maitland Park, with work starting this week on 55 new car spaces off Gipps Street.

The project is part of the staged Maitland Park Master Plan, which Council endorsed earlier this year and which aims to create a more vibrant civic space with better parking, safer access and improved recreation opportunities for park users and sporting groups. Council says community feedback highlighted strong support for more parking in and around the park.

The expansion will add 55 car spaces and a range of safety measures along Gipps Street, including a kiss and ride drop-off area, new footpaths, a pedestrian crossing and traffic-calming speed humps. Council says these changes are designed to make it easier and safer for people to move between the car park, sporting facilities and other parts of the park.

Local clubs, including the Maitland District Netball Association, are expected to benefit from the upgrade, with the extra capacity aimed at better accommodating participants and spectators in the 2026 netball season and beyond. Council says the additional parking responds directly to pressure on existing spaces during busy training nights and competition days.

“Community consultation showed great support for increased parking, so we’re thrilled to announce that works are underway to open up more parking in a convenient location, particularly for our netball community,” Maitland Mayor Philip Penfold said.

The Maitland Park Master Plan sets out a long-term vision for the precinct, focusing on increased play and recreational opportunities, improved parking and pathway connections, better accessibility and more shade across the site. Council has framed the plan as a way to strengthen Maitland Park’s role as a central civic and recreation hub for the city.

Penfold said the current project formed just one part of a broader program of works already starting to change the look and feel of the park. “This expanded carpark, along with the recently completed car park at the heart of Maitland Park and the opening of a spacious lawn area set for later this year, marks just the beginning of significant improvements for Maitland Park that will enhance its citywide appeal now and into the future,” he said.

Phase one of the car park expansion begins this week, with Council expecting works to be completed in early April, ahead of the netball season. Construction will be staged to align with the broader master plan schedule and to minimise disruption for regular park users where possible.

Council is encouraging residents, sporting clubs and other users of Maitland Park to follow the project’s progress and view the full Maitland Park Master Plan via its project webpage. Further stages of work will be delivered over coming years as funding becomes available and detailed designs are completed.