The new playspace and duck pond upgrades at Blackheath Soldiers Memorial Park were officially opened this morning by Blue Mountains Mayor, Mark Greenhill, and Member for Blue Mountains, Trish Doyle MP.
The extensive upgrades, which are already being enjoyed by the community, provide a range of more accessible opportunities for play and recreation across these key areas of the park.
The most striking feature of the new playspace area is a unique water play experience which channels existing ground water down the incline of the park and provides lots of opportunity for play at the water's edge.
This includes places where those who are less mobile, or in wheelchairs, can interact with the water.
Other upgrades within the playspace include:
- An accessible connecting pathway from the Prince Edward Street park entrance, across the water play area, to the new toilet.
- A link from the play area to the accessible path which leads to Blackheath Pool.
- A wire-mesh fence for safety, between the play areas and the road.
- A heritage swing set in the toddler play area of the playspace (transferred from the duck pond area of the park).
- The renewal of the heritage and iconic pipe-based play equipment and its setting.
- Landscaping and plantings throughout the playspace.
- A little further down the slope of the park, the duck pond has been significantly improved from a structural, environmental and visual perspective and it's now a much more accessible area to enjoy.
Key upgrades to the duck pond include:
- Changes to the pond shape and edges to improve water quality and provide a better habitat for wildlife.
- A new accessible loop path around the pond.
- Safer pond edges and improved sight lines into the pond area.
- Reinforcing the dam wall structure.
- Repositioning of the island for better water flow in the pond.
- Replacing the existing barbeque shelter with a new and accessible one.
- Removal of a large amount of debris and weeds from the bottom of the pond.
Blue Mountains Mayor, Cr Mark Greenhill said: "The upgrades allow more of this much-loved park to be enjoyed by a wider range of people. That's at the heart of what this project has been all about.
"The new playspace serves two really important functions. The first is to provide a more accessible, connected, unique and above all, fun play experience for children.
"The second isn't as plain to see - it's under the ground. The upgrade, specifically the integration of the water play, collects and channels the flow of groundwater under the park.
"Over the past few years we've seen how boggy this area can become after sustained heavy rainfall. Wet or dry, this upgrade has been constructed for the future, not just today.
"The accessible path connections are also critical to enhancing the useability of the park, especially for less mobile visitors, and the fence is key in helping to keep children within the bounds of the play area.
"We've also given the heritage pipe-based play equipment a refresh, as we know it holds a very special place in the memory of many residents and visitors, and of course the ever-popular red rocket still stands proudly over the new additions.
"Down at the duck pond there's been a striking transformation. With an accessible loop walk, gently sloping pond edges, open lawns, beautiful views and updated BBQ facilities it's now a much more inviting place for play or a picnic.
"I would also like to offer thanks to those who recently spent time helping Council replant some of the areas around the pond. The investment that our local community have in our parks and open spaces, both up and down the mountains, is inspiring and highlights how important these areas are for our community."
Trish Doyle, Member for Blue Mountains said: "The Blackheath Soldiers Memorial Park has a long and rich history as a staple of the Blackheath community and the Blue Mountains more broadly.
"Selected as part of the NSW Government's Public Spaces Legacy Program, the park has received a much-needed upgrade. Not only does it offer a renewed and accessible space for young families to visit, but, with careful future planning, the design also addresses the flooding that the park suffers from during heavy rainfall. I am pleased that the NSW Minns Labor Government is supporting these great new spaces and thankful to our local Council and community for their collaborative work in making this happen."
The upgrades follow the completion of the new toilet block at the park in early April this year.
The playspace and duck pond upgrade projects have been funded by the NSW Government's Public Spaces Legacy Program, which also provided for the recent upgrades at the Corridor of Oaks in Faulconbridge.
More information about the projects is available at: yoursay.bmcc.nsw.gov.au/blackheath-memorial-park-legacy-project
Photo: Blue Mountains Mayor, Mark Greenhill and Member for Blue Mountains, Trish Doyle MP, officially open the new park upgrades.
