Six finalists, selected by the Australian Institute of Landscape Architects, are presented with descriptions of the projects below. The winner as chosen by our web poll will be awarded at a ceremony at Luna Park on December 5.

1. PRINCE ALFRED PARK AND POOL SYDNEY
Sue Barnsley Design
What they said: "Located at the edge of central Sydney, Prince Alfred Park is both a city park for local workers and a recreational park. The ambition of the project was to reinvigorate the 7.5 hectare park and upgrade the tired public pool. The overriding principle was to premiate landscape over built form, based on a conviction that in these inner urban areas, green space is sacred."

2. PLOUGH AND HARROW WESTERN SYDNEY PARKLANDS
GroupGSA with Ric McConaghy
What they said: "The Western Sydney Parklands, located in the heart of western Sydney, comprise a 27 kilometre corridor stretching from Quakers Hill in the north to Leppington in the south. Plough and Harrow is centrally located in the parklands and has been reinvigorated as a regional recreation destination, providing a wide range of recreation facilities including walking and cycling trails, BBQ and picnic facilities and regional playground. This renewal project focuses on the play area and immediate surrounds, increasing the diversity of play experiences available, providing for a greater range of ages, and encouraging visitors to stay longer and visit more regularly."

3. PARK ROAD CYCLEWAY RYDALMERE
Parramatta City Council
What they said: "Park Road Cycleway Rydalmere is located along the Parramatta River foreshore and averages 20 metres wide and 200 metres in length between Eric Primrose Reserve and Park Rd Rydalmere. It is a significant connection within the strategic Parramatta Valley Cycleway Masterplan which identifies over 12 km of off-road cycleway distributed over both public and private land adjacent the Parramatta River between Ryde and Northmead. The 'Park Road Cycleway Rydalmere' project redefines a previously inaccessible and disregarded foreshore site into an important recreational, environmentally sensitive and sustainable public domain corridor, crucial to the staged completion of the Parramatta Valley Cycleway."

4. JOHNSTONS CANAL SHARED PATHWAY GLEBE
Phillips Marler
What they said: "Johnstons Canal Shared Pathway is a new 1 kilometre long pathway and linear park development, through the suburbs of Glebe and Annandale to Blackwattle Bay on Sydney Harbour. Following the alignment of Johnstons Canal, the development provides a much needed north-south pedestrian and cyclist link through existing parkland and extends through two local council areas, Leichhardt City Council and Sydney City Council. It is part of a significant drive by these councils to provide improved cycling infrastructure in the inner city."

5. THORNTON PARK (SMITH PADDOCK) PENRITH
Place Design Group
What they said: "Thornton Park (Smith Paddock) has been reborn as a major piece of open space within walking distance to Penrith's CBD. The open space design and public art installations draw upon unique character elements to provide the development with an integrated public space that connects physically, visually and metaphorically with the heritage value of the site. The new interpretation of the oval provides an array of activities from passive recreation to active sporting pursuits. On the southern corners and located as close as possible to the community facilities building and parking are two playgrounds for active play. One is inclusive of special needs children while the other is intergenerational and promotes mixed-ages play. The perimeter path around the oval is dotted with fitness stations that allows for a circular fitness trail."

6. LIVVI'S PLACE INCLUSIVE PLAYGROUND RYDE
City of Ryde with AECOM
What they said: "In 2010, the Touched by Olivia Foundation (TBOF) and the City of Ryde formed a partnership to plan, design and construct an inclusive playground, a first for the City of Ryde and for the inner north west of Sydney. The challenge in this project was to create a landscape design that catered for all children and their carers, including those with physical, sensory, intellectual and spectrum disabilities. The aim was to create a fully inclusive space where able bodied children would be able to play happily alongside their disabled peers, and where carers were adequately provided for. Overseen by City of Ryde, construction of Livvi's Place commenced in September 2012 and was completed and celebrated with a Grand Opening Event on 3 February 2013."