Environment Minister Reece Whitby has today announced local architects Gresley Abas will design the new Park Centre that will become the focal point of John Forrest National Park.

The Park Centre will showcase the park's heritage and culture in a contemporary facility that will complement the surrounding environment.

The design will include environmentally sustainable, accessible and culturally appropriate spaces, with a strong emphasis on integrating the facilities into the natural surrounds.

The Park Centre will include an interpretation space dedicated to John Forrest National Park, Western Australia's other parks and reserves, and the Aboriginal culture of the park and the State.

A new, larger car park will more than triple the current parking capacity at the park to more than 600 bays.

Visitors will enter the park via a new access point and the new car park will be designed to have minimal visual impact.

An iconic, universally accessible elevated walkway will provide pedestrian access between the new car park and the Park Centre complex.

Construction will be undertaken in stages to minimise disruption for park visitors, with the upgrades expected to be fully completed by mid-2024.

Proclaimed in 1900, John Forrest National Park was WA's first national park and one of Australia's oldest conservation areas.

In 2020-21, John Forrest National Park received more than 130,000 visits.

Comments attributed to Environment Minister Reece Whitby:

"John Forrest National Park is an iconic park less than an hour's drive from central Perth and these upgrades and new facilities will give visitors even more reasons to visit and enjoy the park.

"Gresley Abas is a local architect firm with a wealth of experience in this type of innovative project and I am looking forward to seeing the designs.

"As a Government, we are committed to enhancing and growing WA's national park reserves."

Comments attributed to Kalamunda MLA Matthew Hughes:

"The $8.4 million upgrade to the facilities at John Forrest National Park was a key election commitment of mine at the 2021 State Election so I am thrilled to see it progressing.

"The park is a much-loved part of our local community and this upgrade will ensure people can continue to enjoy the natural beauty of the area in a sustainable way."