Stockhorse Avenue Reserve is the kind of place you can already picture on a warm Saturday. Kids are on the playground, a few teenagers are working through a game of basketball on the court, and parents are sitting in the shade with a drink from the fountain nearby.
That picture is close to what The Hills Shire Council is now preparing to build in Box Hill. A contractor has been appointed for the $1.3 million, 5,126m2 reserve, and construction is expected to start in late 2026. Beyond the playground and multipurpose court, the plans include a shelter, seating, gardens and young trees, with pathways connecting it all. There is space to run around and space to simply sit.
Mayor of The Hills Shire, Dr Michelle Byrne, says the design follows what neighbours told Council. More than 150 people responded to the consultation, and she says the two loudest requests were a court for sports like basketball and shaded places to gather. She hopes the reserve becomes a treasured community gem, especially for young people looking for somewhere to play.
It matters because Box Hill keeps growing. The suburb is expected to reach 49,000 residents, and Mayor Byrne says people need places close to home to stay active, meet each other and enjoy a healthy lifestyle.
There is a larger story behind the park too. Mayor Byrne says Box Hill faces a $207 million infrastructure shortfall, and that State and Federal Governments need to step in. Council will keep advocating for that support while getting on with what it can do now. That includes Stockhorse Avenue Reserve and The Water Lane Reserve, which is set to open at the end of this year.
