Residents submit ideas for redeveloped Victoria Park

Brisbane’s answer to Central Park would be the city’s biggest new park in almost half a century if it goes ahead. Now, residents have given their suggestions for what it should feature, and some of the ideas might even turn some of the park’s biggest opponents.

WATERSLIDES, interactive fountains, a city farm and even a swimming pond for dogs could be rolled out in Brisbane’s biggest new park in almost half a century.

Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner will today announce a raft of ideas being considered by the council as they push ahead with plans to redevelop the underused Victoria Park golf course into a 45 hectare recreational park.

The ideas, which have been put forward by residents, also include night markets, running tracks and butterfly houses.

“The response from people so far on the vision to transform this land into public parkland for everyone to enjoy has been eye-opening and exciting,” Cr Schrinner said.

“Just last month I handed the blank canvas of a 45-hectare park over to the community to plan, and they have not let me down.

“Almost 12,400 people have visited the Victoria Park Vision website, more than 1300 completed the online survey and more than 400 individual ideas have been submitted.”

Council has received hundreds of individual ideas for the redeveloped Victoria Park.

The announcement comes ahead of the “Victoria Park Party” being held by the council this Sunday, where residents will be given the opportunity to explore the site and put forward more ideas while the golf course is shut down for the day.

The council made the decision to permanently close down the Victoria Park golf course in the wake of dwindling patronage figures, with a 16 per cent reduction in visitors in the past eight years.

The driving range, putt-putt course, wedding venue and function centre are all expected to remain open.

When finished, the park will be the second-biggest in Brisbane, behind the Mt Coot-tha Botanic Gardens, but will be more than double the size of the City Botanic Gardens.

Victoria Park will be transformed into a 45ha recreational area over the next 50 years.

Cr Schrinner said this weekend’s event would feature live music, kids’ entertainment, market stalls, food trucks and workshops.

“As part of the event, we will be giving out event passports that will be stamped as you visit each activity station around the park, with residents who collect all the stamps going into the draw to win a prize,” he said.

Consultation will close on Sunday, September 29.