The South Para River has limited soil developments and consists of alluvial sands and gravels. All soils are acidic. Para Wirra Conservation Park is not only important as an educational resource, but also for its conservation and recreation value. The boundary of the conservation park is contiguous with, and forms part of a block of native vegetation. As only twenty six percent (26%) of the Mount Lofty Ranges remains uncleared, a block of native vegetation of this size is important in terms of its representativeness of vegetation types, for the maintenance of diversity of animal and plant species, maintenance of water quality, and as a valuable recreational resource for the community. Para Wirra Conservation Park also provides a range of recreation opportunities consistent with its conservation significance and its importance and proximity to the expanding population of the northern metropolitan area. Land within the conservation park was first given protected area status on 21 June 1962 when it was proclaimed under the "Crown Lands Act 1929" as the "Para Wirra National Park", taking its name from the historic cadastral division which in lay, the Hundred of Para Wirra. The national park was officially opened on 24 September 1963 by the then Premier of South Australia, Sir Thomas Playford and was the second reserve in the state to be proclaimed as a national park. On 27 April 1972, the national park was reconstituted as a recreation park. This reconstitution reflected the park's role as a natural area catering for a wide range of recreational activities. On 2 November 2015, Environment Minister Ian Hunter announced that to better recognise and protect the recreation park's natural and heritage values, it would be upgraded to Conservation Park status. The recreation park was abolished on 19 May 2016 and on the same day, its land holding was constituted as the "Para Wirra Conservation Park". The conservation park takes its name from what are believed to be two local Aboriginal words; Para meaning "river" and Wirra meaning "forest". There are several sites of Aboriginal significance within the conservation park, but the area was thought to have been occupied by the Peramangk tribe prior European settlement. Recent findings are currently under investigation. Para Wirra Conservation Park is predominately covered in eucalyptus; however there is a wide variety of vegetation types. Some of these include: - Woodland - Open Woodland (low open woodland) - Low open forest - Closed scrub - Eucalyptus open scrub - Melaleuca uncinata open scrub - Melaleuca uncinata closed heath  Para Wirra Conservation Park is crucial in conserving the native wildlife as much of it has been adversely affected by past agricultural and mining practices.