Penrith City Park: $10m plans approved for corner of Henry, Station streets

London has St James’s Park, New York has Central Park and Sydney has Hyde Park. Now Penrith is set to get its very own urban oasis.

UPDATE

Penrith Council has announced the vacant buildings on the corner of Henry and Station streets will be demolished later this month to make way for the new City Park.

Penrith Mayor Karen McKeown OAM said the approval for City Park is an important step towards the delivery of a new, green civic heart for Penrith.  

“City Park has been a long-held vision for council and our community and receiving this approval now allows us to get on with the job of delivering this vibrant green space for our residents, visitors, shoppers and workers to use and enjoy,” Mayor McKeown said.

“City Park’s prime location, opposite Penrith Westfield and a short distance from Penrith Train Station will create a welcoming, walkable environment which invites people to explore the city centre further and discover all our great shops, cafes and businesses.”

The park will have themed gardens, water features as well as more trees to provide increased natural shade, bench seating, public artwork.

Demolition of buildings on site will start in late October.

Construction will start in early 2022 and City Park will open in early 2023.

EARLIER

BY SIMRAN GILL ON OCTOBER 5, 2021

A $10 million city park has been approved for the Penrith CBD.

Penrith City Park will be located in the heart of the city centre, on the corner of Henry and Station streets.

Perspective sketches of the approved plans for Penrith City Park.

According to architect JMD design, currently there is limited access to open space within Penrith CBD.

“Memory Park & Triangle Park are the only ‘green’ open spaces, in the immediate surroundings however, they are of a smaller scale which limits the range of usage.

“Providing green amenity to the business district of Penrith will improve pedestrian amenity and a recreational space for workers and shoppers within Penrith City,” JMD designs said as part of the plans.

Key features of the park will include a variety of large shady trees, a sensory garden, water features and natural landscaping.

Perspective sketches of the approved plans for Penrith City Park.

Concept design for the pergolas at the recently approved Penrith City Park, acquired from the amended landscape plan.

Perspective sketches of the approved plans for Penrith City Park.

“The park aims to facilitate plenty of space for everyone to meet, retreat, eat and be active as well as stimulate the day and night time economy by attracting locals, visitors and investors,” Penrith Council said.

The council also claims safety will be of utmost priority, planning ahead for well lit areas.

“Council’s aim is for everyone to be and feel safe no matter where they are or what they’re doing across our city and this includes in the new City Park.”

Safety and security is being carefully considered and planned throughout the design stage to ensure that City Park is safe and enjoyable for all to use during the day and night,” council said.

Night time view of Penrith City Park, acquired from amended landscape analysis plan.

The parks will span approximately 7,000 sqm which makes up approximately one third of the block, finishing at the Allen Park car park to the south and Gaymark Lane in the east.

Currently, the site is host to a portion of a large carpark and a handful of small businesses. Many of the businesses, along High St, back onto the adjacent Allen Place which is primarily used for parking and services.

Location planned for Penrith City Park, acquired for amended landscape plan.

A small section of Allen Place car park is being lost in the construction of City Park but the remaining car spaces will still be available for one and two-hour parking.

A new temporary car park, next to Judges Place car park on Woodriff Street, is being built to offset the loss of parking at Allen Place and provide 159 all-day parking spaces and four accessible car spaces.

Several buildings, that currently stand on the corner of Station and Henry Street, will be demolished to make way for the new City Park.

These buildings are owned by Penrith City Council.

The council has been working with tenants for a number of years and confirmed the timeline for the park development last September.