Correction (4 October 2026): an earlier version of this page listed places and details we could not stand behind. It has been rewritten from scratch: every place below was confirmed at two independent sources on 3 October 2026.
This page answers a plain question: which parks and reserves in and around Footscray does the council list, and what does it say each one has? There are six places. Four are in Footscray, one is in Seddon and one is in Maribyrnong.
Every feature below is attributed to the Maribyrnong City Council page for that park, and each place was also found on OpenStreetMap. Where the council does not list a feature, we say so instead of guessing.
We give no distances or opening hours, because the council pages we read give none. Facilities change, so check the official page before you go.
The quick picks
| If you’re after | Head to | Where |
|---|---|---|
| Garden, barbecue, fitness circuit | Footscray Park | Ballarat Road, Footscray |
| Climbing net and half basketball court | Ercildoune Reserve | 25 Hyde Street, Footscray |
| Playground and open space | Fordham Reserve | Corner Cowper and Ryan Streets, Footscray |
| Playground and seating | McCoy Reserve | Rippon Street, Footscray |
| Barbecue and views to the city | Mappin Reserve | Between Nicholson and Bell Streets, Seddon |
| Playground, barbecue, basketball ring | Jensen Reserve | Myers Road, Maribyrnong |
Footscray Park — Ballarat Road, Footscray VIC 3011
The council calls Footscray Park a regional open space and lists these features: barbecue, drinking fountain, fitness circuit, outdoor stage or amphitheatre, picnic table, seating, toilets and a walking path. It says the park provides views to the city skyline and Flemington Racecourse, with connections to the Maribyrnong River Trail. The council also says it has the most intact Edwardian period public garden in Victoria, and a memorial garden for soldiers who served in World War I and World War II. On dogs, the council says there is a designated off-lead area on the western side of Thomson Water Garden, on the Victoria University side, and all other areas require a lead.
Water and toilets: the council’s feature list names a drinking fountain and toilets, and the page gives no opening hours or entry fee.
Ercildoune Reserve — 25 Hyde Street, Footscray VIC 3011
The council describes Ercildoune Reserve as a local open space right beside heritage listed Ercildoune House, which it says is home to the Footscray Historical Society. Its special features include a large climbing net, a half basketball court, and picnic tables and chairs. The council’s feature list reads basketball ring, picnic table and seating. The council also states that bookings in Ercildoune Reserve are not accepted.
Start at: 25 Hyde Street, the address the council gives, which is beside Ercildoune House.
Fordham Reserve — Corner Cowper and Ryan Streets, Footscray VIC 3011
The council’s page for Fordham Reserve lists these features: drinking fountain, open space, picnic table, playground and seating. That is the whole of what we could confirm, so we have not added anything about shade, fencing or surfaces. The address is the corner of Cowper and Ryan Streets.
Water and toilets: the council lists a drinking fountain, and its feature list for this reserve does not mention toilets.
McCoy Reserve — Rippon Street, Footscray VIC 3011
McCoy Reserve is on Rippon Street, and the council’s feature list for it is short: a playground and seating. We found nothing further on its page, so this entry stays short rather than guess at fencing, shade or paths. It is one for a quick stop rather than a day out, going by what the council lists.
Distance / grade / surface: the council page we read gives none of the three for this reserve, only a playground and seating.
Mappin Reserve — Between Nicholson and Bell Streets, Seddon VIC 3011
Mappin Reserve is in Seddon, between Nicholson and Bell Streets. The council calls it a medium sized local open space reserve with playground, basketball half-court and views across the docks to the city. Its feature list adds a barbecue, drinking fountain, picnic table, playground and seating.
Water and toilets: the council lists a drinking fountain, and its feature list for this reserve does not mention toilets.
Jensen Reserve — Myers Road, Maribyrnong VIC 3032
Jensen Reserve is on Myers Road in Maribyrnong, just outside the Footscray postcode. The council calls it a municipal open space with playground, basketball half court and picnic area. Its feature list reads barbecue, basketball ring, drinking fountain, picnic table, playground and seating.
Weather call: the council lists a barbecue and a picnic table here, so check the Bureau of Meteorology forecast before you plan an outdoor meal.
Quick answers
Which parks in Footscray have barbecues?
The council’s feature lists include a barbecue at Footscray Park, at Mappin Reserve in Seddon and at Jensen Reserve in Maribyrnong. The lists for Ercildoune, Fordham and McCoy Reserves do not mention one.
Where can dogs go off lead in Footscray Park?
The council says Footscray Park has a designated dog off-lead area on the western side of Thomson Water Garden, on the Victoria University side. It also says dogs must be on-lead within five metres of the trail along the Maribyrnong River, and all other areas of the park require a lead.
Which Footscray parks have playgrounds?
The council’s feature lists name a playground at Fordham Reserve, McCoy Reserve, Mappin Reserve in Seddon and Jensen Reserve in Maribyrnong. For Ercildoune Reserve the council describes a large climbing net and a half basketball court.
Are there parks near Footscray with city views?
The council says Mappin Reserve in Seddon has views across the docks to the city. It also says Footscray Park provides views to the city skyline and Flemington Racecourse.
How we checked
We checked every place on this page against at least two independent sources on 3 October 2026: OpenStreetMap and council pages. Facilities and opening hours change, so check the official page before you go. The photos are illustrative, from Unsplash: they show the kind of place, not the places on this page.
Seen something out of date? Email [email protected] with the page link and what has changed, and we will check it again.
Sources
- Footscray Park: openstreetmap.org/45792871, maribyrnong.vic.gov.au/Footscray-Park
- Ercildoune Reserve: openstreetmap.org/23143919, maribyrnong.vic.gov.au/Ercildoune-Reserve
- Fordham Reserve: openstreetmap.org/23146584, maribyrnong.vic.gov.au/Fordham-Reserve
- McCoy Reserve: openstreetmap.org/1305132399, maribyrnong.vic.gov.au/McCoy-Reserve
- Mappin Reserve: openstreetmap.org/479008279, maribyrnong.vic.gov.au/Mappin-Reserve
- Jensen Reserve: openstreetmap.org/778989883, maribyrnong.vic.gov.au/Jensen-Reserve
