Melbourne is facing a shortage of public parks and sporting grounds, as skyscraper developers swoop on the city's best blocks and price government out of the market.


Church grounds were one of the few ways for Melbourne City Council to snap up prime land holdings in the central city, according to influential Melbourne planner Rob Adams. But now, he said even the churches are looking to develop.


The council recently embarked on an unsuccessful search to find a much-needed new park in North Melbourne.


Council's environment chairman Arron Wood said landowners either told them they were not selling, or the sale price they offered was "exorbitant".