The Alice Springs Mayor has given his clearest indication yet that the council may soon sell some of its parks to help ensure its facilities remain "current and fit for purpose".

As part of the parks master plan due to go before the chambers for endorsement next month, the council is considering rationalising or repurposing some of Alice Springs' under-utilised green spaces.

Mayor Matt Paterson said some of the 73 council-owned parks – including 50 playgrounds and eight sporting facilities – had become a drain on the town's resources.

"We need to be a little bit more innovative with what we're doing with our parks," he said.

The Alice Springs Town Council has been debating whether to dispose of part of its vast parks estate for several years, but little land has gone under the hammer.

Mr Paterson said the proceeds could be reinvested into other projects and that some residents had already given their support for repurposing their local park.

He pointed to Madigan Park, located in the northside suburb of Braitling, where community consultation has previously been carried out.

"The community around that area wanted to subdivide that park," he said.

Mr Paterson said each park would be looked at differently and emphasised that it was "not a one-size-fits-all approach".

Strategic vision

Earlier this month the council adopted a new eight-year strategic plan focused on the pillars of livability, safety, environment, economy and governance.

Developing the parks master plan, which falls under the livability pillar, is one of the key components of the strategic plan.

"Alice Springs as a region has a great deal of potential," the document reads.

"Council is committed to collaborating with key stakeholders to ensure our town fulfils this potential.

"Through planning for upgraded and new facilities, council will bring Alice Springs' unique character and landscape to life while activating key spaces across the municipality."

Mr Paterson has described the plan – which runs to the year 2030 – as "ambitious" but "necessary".

"Much like council’s role in the community, the plan takes a holistic look at Alice Springs and the needs of its residents," he said.