Consultation concludes on the Small Parks Improvement Program

The community has been consulted on plans to improve 12 small parks across Ballarat. Residents were asked to shape their future recreational spaces, as part of the Small Parks Improvements Program.  

The parks that received the most community feedback were Hermitage Avenue Reserve and Cuthberts Road Reserve with 148 community members providing feedback across all 12 small parks. 

The Small Parks Improvement Program will enhance amenity, attractiveness, usability, natural shade and habitat as well as increase pedestrian access and connections.   

The improvements will vary across the open spaces, improvements include tree plantings to increase natural shade, improved seating areas and paths, play equipment, and shelters to increase the use and amenity of the parks.   

The City of Ballarat will now progress works on five parks across the municipality, with the positive resident feedback of the proposed changes at five reserves; 

• College Street Reserve 

• Cuthberts Road Reserve  

• Hearn Reserve 

• Horsham Reserve  

• Vale Street Reserve  

The improvement works are scheduled to commence in early 2023.  

Following the consultation, design changes have been made to five of the small parks plans, and the designs will be provided to community members to ensure the plans capture the feedback received.  

The updated plans will be available on City of Ballarat’s mysay page in February 2023 these revised plans are for:  

• Inkerman Gully Reserve 

• Glenvale Road Reserve  

• Peel Street Reserve  

• Webb Street Reserve 

• Shaw Street Reserve  

The common theme in the community feedback was an interest in additional seating, increased play equipment, and incorporating imaginative play into the landscaping.  

The final two parks that received feedback will be explored further, to ensure the improvements suit the community. There will be additional engagement with the community to lock in a suitable design at.  

• Orchard Estate Reserve. 

• Hermitage Avenue Reserve.  

In February 2023 an in-person process will commence that will allow the community members to help co-design the parks. Please check the City of Ballarat mysay page for updates.  

The City of Ballarat Mayor, Cr Des Hudson said understanding the needs and expectations of the community for their local space is paramount.   

“Based on the degree of community interest in the 12 parks in the program, it is great to know that the improvements we make will be welcomed and used by the local residents,” he said.  

"Some of these parks have not been upgraded in many years and it is great to be able to improve these important neighborhood spaces with the residents front of mind.” 

The projects will be funded from Open Space Developer Contributions which are monetary contributions provided by developers of subdivisions for the improvement of parks and reserves.