With Centennial Park’s future in question, the community has made it known that they want the park to remain a park.
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On Sunday, Integrated Design Group (IDG) held a two-hour consultation session at Centennial Park with over a hundred people making their thoughts and ideas known.
IDG general manager Brenton Jones was in agreement that the community wants to keep the park.
“Without a doubt, people want the park to remain a park. We need to look at what the purpose of a park will be though,” he said.
“We’ll need to research the park’s history, look at its potential. We’ll also look at the best practice for the park, its role and future.
“Not many public engagements, like this, go to this length. The passion is here to see.”
IDG had a vox-pop set up, with a video recorder and microphone so the group could capture the thoughts, ideas and emotions of the community’s views for Centennial Park’s future.
Mr Jones said you need a fine balance between both amenities and density for open spaces at the park.
Friends of Centennial Park, a group of Bathurst residents who wish to see the park preserved, maintained and enhanced, had their own stand at the consultation session.
Not many public engagements, like this, go to this length. The passion is here to see.
- Integrated Design Group manager Brenton Jones
Committee member Peter Simmons said he was not surprised by the turn out.
“I’ve been living in Lambert Street since 1984 and I’m not surprised by the turn out. The people value the park,” he said.
“I’ve never been involved in something with so much support.
“People value the park. There’s a real concern that once the park is gone, its gone forever.
“That’s one reason people want to keep it how it is.”
Mr Simmons said reality is straight forward for Centennial Park.
“It’s about tender loving care and improving,” he said.
“One initiative might be to get rid of the poles and wires. It might beautify the park more.”
IDG director Tony McBurney said the treatment of Centennial Park is one that “strikes at the core what is is to live in Bathurst”.
People were given an opportunity to post their thoughts, with sticky notes, on a 1:200 scale replica of Centennial Park.
