Earlier this month, the City of Melbourne announced plans to create or upgrade more parks and green spaces. And now, we know a little bit more about one of their projects. A fairly grim space underneath an overpass in Southbank is about to get a much-needed glow-up. The City Road Undercroft will be transformed into a 5,000 square metre public park. Instead of just being bare concrete, it will have greenery, places to sit, a street-style skate park and courts for basketball and netball. Construction is scheduled to begin in late 2026, subject to final approvals. The project is expected to be complete in mid-to-late-2027.
City Road Undercroft park
Located underneath the busy Kings Way, this project will change the area into a welcoming community space. The concrete will stay, but there will be lighting and planted areas to make it seem more inviting.
Skaters will have fun zooming around, with a roller skate rink winding through the planted areas. There will also be bouldering walls tucked between the columns, so you can have a climb. Gather your mates for a friendly game of basketball or netball in one of the multi-purpose courts. There will also be quieter places with seats, so you can have a rest.
“This is about turning a space people move through into somewhere they choose to stay – a quick way to revitalise neighbourhoods, improve safety and deliver desperately needed open space where it matters most,” said Lord Mayor Nick Reece.
This project builds on the success of the southern side of the City Road Undercroft, which is now a dog park.
The City of Melbourne has allocated $5.5 million to this project in their draft budget for 2026-2027, and an additional $4 million has been committed from the Australian government.
For more details about the project, click here.