The Places to Roam (PTR) program delivers a series of open space, greenway and community garden projects across Greater Sydney to increase the liveability of neighbourhoods and communities and support new and existing housing.
The PTR grant program is being funded under the $50 million Open Spaces Program for new and improved open spaces to swim, play, roam and ride and connect with nature. PTR is being delivered under two separate grant programs.
The Regional Trails Program provides funding to support councils to upgrade or create new walking and cycling links for active transport and recreation to improve health and fitness, community wellbeing, sense of place and connections with nature.
The Community Gardens Program provides funding to support councils in establishing and embedding community garden schemes and bushcare in their local community.
Places to Roam, Community Gardens grants now closed
Six funding applications were received under the third round of the NSW Government’s Community Gardens Places to Roam program that opened in January 2024 and closed on 29 March 2024.
Assessment is currently underway and the successful applicants for the Community Gardens round 3 funding will be announced in May 2024.
A total of $250,000 is available for the third round for grants of up to $75,000 each.
Adults and children gardening at Harris Creek Fairy Glen, a grassroots community-driven initiative supported by Liverpool Council. Credit: The Enchanted Trove 
People gardening at Harris Creek Fairy Glen, a grassroots community-driven initiative supported by Liverpool Council. Credit: The Enchanted Trove 
People gardening at Harris Creek Fairy Glen, a grassroots community-driven initiative supported by Liverpool Council. Credit: The Enchanted Trove 
Adults and children gardening at Harris Creek Fairy Glen, a grassroots community-driven initiative supported by Liverpool Council. Credit: The Enchanted Trove 
Adults and children gardening at Harris Creek Fairy Glen, a grassroots community-driven initiative supported by Liverpool Council. Credit: The Enchanted Trove
Frequently asked questions
All 33 Sydney metropolitan councils are eligible to apply, including:
- Bayside Council
- Blacktown City Council
- Blue Mountains City Council
- Burwood Council
- Camden Council
- Campbelltown City Council
- City of Canada Bay
- Canterbury-Bankstown Council
- Cumberland Council
- Fairfield City Council
- Georges River Council
- Hawkesbury City Council
- Hills Shire Council
- The Hornsby Shire Council
- The Council of the Municipality of Hunters Hill
- Inner West Council
- Ku-ring-gai Council
- Lane Cove Municipal Council
- Liverpool City Council
- Mosman Municipal Council
- North Sydney Council
- Northern Beaches Council
- City of Parramatta Council
- Penrith City Council
- Randwick City Council
- City of Ryde Council
- Strathfield Municipal Council
- Sutherland Shire Council
- City of Sydney Waverley Shire Council
- City of Willoughby
- Wollondilly Shire Council
- Woollahra Municipal Council.
$250,000 is available with grants of up to $75,000. We encourage councils and community groups in collaboration with councils to apply for grants for up to $75,000.
The funding will support councils in the delivery of community gardens for people of all ages to connect and collaborate on growing food, bushland restoration or local amenity.
- Applications for round 3 open in January 2024
- Applications close on 29 March 2024
- Successful applicants for the Community Gardens round 3 funding will be announced in May 2024
If you have more questions about the Open Spaces Program, email the team at [email protected]
Previous Places to Roam grant rounds
2022-23 successful grant projects
For the 2022-23 grant program, 23 projects across 14 councils have been successful. 15 of these projects are part of the Regional Trails program and 8 are part of the Community Gardens program totalling an investment of $11.2 million.
The funding will support 31,404 homes to have access to open space within a 10 minute (800 m) walk.
View a static map of the full list of successful projects:
- Successful grant projects – Regional Trails (PDF, 2.9 MB)
- Successful grant projects – Community Gardens (PDF, 4.3 MB)
2021-22 successful grant projects
For the 2021-22 grant program, 11 projects across 8 councils have been successful. 9 of these projects are part of the Regional Trails program and 2 are part of the Community Gardens program totalling an investment of $5.6 million.
| Council | Location | Project | Grant |
|---|---|---|---|
| City of Parramatta Council | Carlingford | Hunts Creek Reserve Wayfinding | $96,500 |
| Cumberland City Council | Pemulwuy | Pemulwuy Community Garden | $75,000 |
| Campbelltown City Council | Various sites in Campbelltown | Building a Bushcare Army | $75,000 |
| Campbelltown City Council | Leumeah | Smiths Creek Trail | $245,375 |
| City of Parramatta Council | Parramatta Wharf | Stewart Street Reserve | $500,000 |
| City of Canterbury- Bankstown Council | Earlwood | Cooks River and Wolli Creek Trail | $500,000 |
| Hornsby Shire Council | Cherrybrook | Callicoma Walk | $206,430 |
| Hunter’s Hill Council | Woolwich | Kelly’s Bush to Clarkes Point Reserve Walking Track | $100,772 |
| Ku-ring-gai Council | Roseville Chase | Two Creeks Walking Track | $200,000 |
| Northern Beaches Council | Frenchs Forest | Pipeline Active Transport Corridor | $2,137,080 |
| Northern Beaches Council | Freshwater | McKillop Headland Boardwalk and Artwork | $1,550,000 |
You can view a static map of the Successful 2021-22 grant projects (PDF, 1.7 MB).