The Park itself is such a sanctuary

I grew up about 20 minutes away from Parramatta Park but I've been in the area since I was 21. Parramatta Park is a melting pot and that is evident when you take a walk around the park. Growing up, it was everyone's go-to for birthday parties. Some of my best memories of Parramatta Park are also my worst memories. I was co-captain of the Parramatta Eels, and we’d go there for day one of pre-season training to do time trials. There's a 3.2-kilometre track and we finish up the hill near the Crescent. It’s really tough. Parramatta has given me so much and I feel such a strong connection with the community when I walk around the Park. it's been cool to see the city grow in the last five years: it's gone from being a suburb to a CBD in its own right, which is why the Park itself is such a sanctuary. It has a Central Park feel, as it gives everyone in the community an opportunity to escape the hustle and bustle.