From the first park activities in 2012 to almost 120,000 attendees 15 years later, Activities in the Park has helped Greater Shepparton residents and visitors stay active, healthy and connected.
The name, logo and program have changed over time, although its purpose has remained the same: making it easier for people of all ages and abilities to enjoy local parks, reserves, pools, playgrounds and other community spaces, meet others and support their wellbeing.
The success of Activities in the Park has been built on collaboration. Local businesses, sporting clubs, community organisations, volunteers and Council teams have contributed their time, skills and ideas to create a diverse range of activities for the community.
In 2024/25 alone, the program worked with 10 internal partners, 11 external partners and 22 external facilitators. These partnerships help the program deliver activities for different ages, abilities, interests and towns.
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A snapshot of the program’s achievements
| 15 years | 2,465+ activities | 119,820+ attendees |
Where it began
Activities in the Park began in 2012 as a joint initiative between Greater Shepparton City Council and Parks Victoria.
Parks Victoria had funding available through its Healthy Parks Healthy People program to activate parks across Greater Shepparton. Council was already delivering smaller events including Twilight Strolls, Summer Strolls in smaller towns, a pedometer challenge, walking groups and events encouraging people to walk or ride to school or work.
The first year included around 10 activities such as yoga in the park, kite making and volleyball. Council staff planned and delivered the activities with a focus on encouraging people to get outdoors, become active and explore parks across the municipality.
From there, the program quickly grew. Additional funding helped expand the program to around 75 events delivered over six months.
Support from the People and Parks Foundation, Unilever, Furphy Foundry and Tatura Milk Industries also helped Council provide more free and low-cost activities across Greater Shepparton.
Bringing activities into smaller towns was an important part of the program from the beginning. Kite making in Merrigum and yoga in Tatura gave local communities new ways to use their parks and take part in activities close to home.
As the program expanded, Council collaborated with local sporting clubs, community groups and facilitators already contributing to the community. These partnerships gave residents opportunities to try new activities while helping local organisations promote their services, share their expertise and connect with potential participants.
The journey so far
| Year | Milestone |
|---|---|
| 2010 | The Greater Shepparton on the Moove Twilight Stroll receives a Victorian Parks and Leisure Australia award. The event helps show the value of bringing movement and community connection into public places. |
| 2012 | Activities in the Park begins through Council’s Healthy Communities Team as part of Get Mooving Greater Shepparton. |
| 2013/14 | The program delivers 150 free activities and records 6,450 participant attendances across Greater Shepparton. |
| 2014 | Activities in the Park receives a Victorian Innovative Program Award for creating inclusive ways to support community health and wellbeing. |
| 2014/15 | More than 200 free activities attract over 8,000 participant attendances. Activities include walks, fishing, stargazing, kite making, movies and table tennis. |
| 2015/16 | The program grows through the involvement of 13 Council departments, 41 community and corporate organisations, three media partners and five external sponsors. |
| 2017/18 | A record 443 free and low-cost activities attract 17,914 participant attendances. Seasonal flyers and the Get Mooving app help people find activities. |
| 2020–22 |
The program adapts to COVID-19 restrictions by offering activities people can enjoy at home, including online yoga sessions and multicultural storytime and games. Many downloadable resources are developed during this period, including wellness cards, mindfulness colouring and scavenger hunts. In 2021, Activities in the Park wins the Victoria/Tasmania Best Regional/Rural Industry Contribution Award. Its tenth season runs from September 2021 to April 2022 with changing activity limits, safety measures and booking requirements. |
| 2024/25 | The program delivers 224 activities and records 12,730 participant attendances. Ten smaller towns, 21 partnerships and 22 external facilitators are involved. |
| 2026 | Activities in the Park enters its 15th season with activities delivered throughout the year and a continuing focus on movement, wellbeing, family fun and connection. |
The look changed. The purpose stayed.
Fifteen years on, the invitation is still simple.
Find something that interests you, visit a new place and join in.
Be part of the next chapter
Make a meaningful contribution to the community.
Express your interest in becoming an Activities in the Park facilitator and help deliver activities that support health, wellbeing and connection across Greater Shepparton.