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Adelaide’s newest metropolitan national park has officially opened

Glenthorne National Park has officially opened to the public, becoming the state’s second metropolitan national park.

Feature image via Department for Environment and Water

Glenthorne National Park – Ityamaiitpinna Yarta, Adelaide’s second metropolitan national park, has officially opened to the public.

Park visitors are now able to access a loop trail which starts and ends at the Glenthorne Ranger Station just off Majors Road, at O’Halloran Hill, looping for four kilometres around significant areas of the new park.

To mark the opening, a major planting event was held at the park to contribute towards the ecological restoration and reinstatement of native vegetation on the site.

Premier Steven Marshall, who officially opened the national park on Sunday, said members of the public can now enjoy access to the property from 8am until 7pm, seven days a week.

“It’s an exciting day for the people of Adelaide’s southern suburbs and beyond to finally enjoy free and open access to Glenthorne National Park,” said the Premier.

“The new national park presents a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to preserve and revitalise a significant portion of open space and turn it into a thriving environmental and recreational precinct for future generations.

Minister for Environment and Water David Speirs said the opening of Glenthorne National Park for public access was an historic moment.

“To be able to welcome the public into Glenthorne for the first time is significant step and it is just the beginning for our vision for the site,” said Minister Speirs.

“Over the coming months and years the Glenthorne precinct – which takes in Glenthorne Farm, O’Halloran Hill Recreation Park, Marino Conservation Park and Hallett Cove Conservation Park – will be transformed into an environmental and recreational hub.

“I’m extremely grateful for the huge effort of the Glenthorne Partnership, a group of community representatives, who have played a significant role in the development of this park.

The Glenthorne National Park Masterplan includes a hub which will be a destination for education, learning and social connection through an events space and visitor centre featuring Kaurna culture and history. It also includes a heritage precinct, nature play and picnic areas, a wetland, and a small bush camping site.

The Masterplan, led by Aspect Studios, has just received the Award of Excellence in the Landscape Management category of the Australian Institute of Landscape Architects (AILA) 2020 SA Landscape Architecture Awards.

The Glenthorne precinct will now undergo a massive revegetation program, while recreational opportunities will be woven into the landscape including walking and cycling trails, picnic sites and a massive nature playground developed in partnership with both local and federal governments.

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