Delivered through a tri-party agreement between Walker Corporation, the City of Playford and Catholic Education South Australia, the sportsground forms part of a 15.35-hectare recreation and education hub in the heart of Riverlea.
Three quarters of the site, the equivalent of around eight Adelaide Ovals, will be dedicated to community sporting facilities and shared by the school.
Stage 1 of the Riverlea District Sportsground will deliver a central multi-purpose oval for AFL, soccer and cricket, a dedicated soccer pitch and cricket practice nets, alongside lighting, fencing, landscaped spectator areas, off-street car parking and new pedestrian links connecting the surrounding neighbourhood to the complex.
City of Playford Mayor Glenn Docherty said the project represents Council's long-term vision to provide accessible, well planned open space that meets the needs of both current and future residents.
"As our city grows, so does our commitment to providing the social and sporting infrastructure that connects people and supports active, vibrant lifestyles," Mayor Docherty said.
"This precinct will serve generations of Playford families, creating a central hub for local sport and community life while demonstrating that Council is supporting planned and sustainable growth, with schools, sporting facilities and open space delivered alongside new housing."
Future Stages 2 to 4 will progressively expand the site into a major district sporting destination, incorporating additional playing fields, hardcourts and a shared clubroom and community facility delivered as the population grows.
Walker Managing Director and CEO David Gallant said social infrastructure is vital to the success of masterplanned communities.
"Delivering major community and school infrastructure early has been an integral part of Walker's long-term vision for Riverlea," Mr Gallant said.
"It's exciting to see construction begin on a place where local sporting teams and schools will train and play on premium facilities, surrounded by open space where neighbours will have barbeques and birthday parties."
Located adjacent to the future Xavier College Riverlea Park campus, the sporting facilities will operate under a shared-use model enabling coordinated access for both students and the wider community.
The college's stage one build is well underway, with construction now progressing on the second and third floors. With 260 enrolment applications already submitted for 2027, the project remains on track for completion in December 2026, ready to welcome its first students at the start of next year.
Executive Director of Catholic Education South Australia Dr Neil McGoran said the new campus will strengthen connections with the Riverlea community while providing high-quality facilities that help students thrive, supporting their learning, wellbeing and sense of belonging.
"This is a significant milestone for Xavier College Riverlea Park and an important step forward in fostering connection between the college and the broader Riverlea community.
"As the college prepares to welcome its first families, we are proud to be working alongside our partners to deliver high-quality facilities that support student learning, formation, wellbeing and connection.
"This project reflects our ongoing commitment to creating school communities that are open to all."
Construction of Stage 1 will support up to 100 local jobs across civil works, landscaping and specialist trades during 2026, with the facilities scheduled to be operational in early 2027.
The Riverlea District Sportsground will be managed by the City of Playford under its Community Land Management Plan, with Walker leading delivery as part of the broader Riverlea masterplan.
The integrated partnership model was recognised with a Planning Excellence Award from the Planning Institute of Australia for its innovative approach to coordinating recreation and education infrastructure within a fast-growing community.
Riverlea is already home to more than 2,700 residents and will ultimately deliver 12,000 homes for around 40,000 people over the next 20 years, supported by schools, retail, parks and lakes.
The sporting facilities announcement follows the South Australian Government's declaration preserving a new 33km mass transit rail corridor connecting Adelaide's existing metropolitan rail network at Dry Creek through Waterloo Corner and Riverlea, extending to Two Wells.
