Limestone Park Ipswich: Dog Park, Playground and Sports Fields

Limestone Park is a large, free green space at Eastern Heights, a few minutes from the Ipswich CBD, with sports fields, a playground, barbecues, pathways and a district dog off-leash area. The address is 42a Chermside Road.

It is a park where you can kick a ball on the grass, walk or cycle the pathways, have a barbecue or let the dog run, and it is also the home of Ipswich netball.

Things to do at Limestone Park

• Kick a ball around on the large grassed area.
• Walk, jog or cycle on the recreational pathways.
• Use the strength and agility stations along the way.
• Have a picnic or barbecue, with picnic tables, gazebos and other shelters in the park.
• Let the kids loose on the playground equipment.
• Look for the monument or memorial that council lists in the park.

Drinking water, public toilets, car parking and coach parking are all listed for the park, and entry is free.

Dog off-leash area

Limestone Park has a district-level dog off-leash area off Chermside Road, one of 22 dedicated off-leash areas in Ipswich. It has separate areas for small dogs and large dogs, agility equipment and an obstacle course that includes wood from a repurposed gum tree.

Council said in August that lighting and the accessible ramp were still being finished, and that completion of construction is scheduled for 2026/27, so expect some work to continue. The area also has shelters, seating, drinking fountains and bins, more than 250 shrubs and groundcover plants, and retained trees that give shade. A new accessible car park and a footpath that meets disability standards lead to it.

Sports fields and netball

Limestone Park is a home ground for team sport. The clubs listed on the council’s park page are Central Districts Cricket Club, Ipswich Eagles AFL Club, Ipswich and District Athletics Club, Ipswich Little Athletics Club and Ipswich Netball Association.

The park has Bill Paterson Oval and Ovals A to D, and the ovals are listed as open from 6 am to 10 pm. Bill Paterson Oval holds up to 1,000 people and has power, Oval A holds up to 700 and has power, and Ovals B, C and D hold 300, 250 and 300 without power. You need a permit or licence from council to use these areas for an event or booking, and if you are running a sporting event at Bill Paterson Oval and want the canteen, you arrange that with Ipswich Little Athletics, not council.

The park hosts state-level netball competitions, so match days can be busy. Council built an $847,000 amenities block for netball on the Salisbury Road side, between the car park and the netball clubhouse. It has 12 toilets and three female showers, a unisex accessible toilet with a shower and a baby change table, and a first aid room. There are accessible parking bays and a path to the car park.

A bit of history

Limestone Park is the southern section of a large reserve granted in 1858 as a botanic garden and public recreation park, the same reserve whose central part became Queens Park. The southern section was transferred to Ipswich City Council in 1894 and now holds several major sporting facilities.

Planning your visit

• Cost: Free entry.
• Toilets: Public toilets, including the large block on the Salisbury Road side and an accessible toilet. The toilets on the lower side of the netball courts are unavailable during the works. Council’s park page lists public toilets but does not say whether any need a key, so call 07 3810 6666 if you need to know.
• Accessibility: The dog area has an accessible car park and footpath, and the park lists disabled access (contact the operator for details).
• What to bring: Water, a hat, a ball or frisbee, and a lead and bags for the dog.

Getting there and parking

Limestone Park is at 42a Chermside Road, Eastern Heights, about 40 km from the Brisbane CBD. By car that is about 45 minutes without traffic. Car parking and coach parking are listed for the park, and there are accessible bays near the amenities block and the dog area. Some car park sections are closed during the netball works. For information call Ipswich City Council on 07 3810 6666.

For buses, search “Chermside Road, Eastern Heights” in the Translink journey planner to see which service stops closest on the day.

Nearby

• Queens Park Ipswich – the heritage gardens and playground that started as the same reserve.
• Ipswich Nature Centre – free native animals inside Queens Park.
• Ipswich Art Gallery – a rainy day option in the city.
• Nerima Gardens Ipswich – a Japanese garden.
• Old Ipswich Court House – Ipswich history in the CBD.
• More Ipswich days out: Ipswich, Parks and Dog parks.

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