Penrith: Final plans for City Park on public exhibition
CBD parking will be replaced with fig trees, a performance space and fountains in the centre of Penrith in an attempt to cool the city down and boost the night-time economy.
Penrith
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Penrith Council’s big plan to turn the heart of the western Sydney CBD into a new green space will go before public exhibition this month.
A DA for the $12 million project has been submitted by JMD Design for the construction of City Park at the corner of Henry and Station Streets, Penrith.
The DA comes hot on the heels of Penrith Council’s plans to transform Soper Pl into a state-of-the-art parking and commercial tower.
A separate DA to facilitate the demolition of relevant buildings and remediation works on the land, including the excavation and encapsulation of potential asbestos and chlorinated hydrocarbon impacted soils.
The site is currently occupied by several commercial buildings and part of the Allen Place carpark, including the former John Price & Son funeral home.
A planner acknowledged the building had “heritage potential” despite not being heritage listed, and will retain a small brick water fountain on the site.
The main body of 7500sqm City Park, bordered by Station and Henry streets, and Allen Place and Graymark Lane, will include an entrance near the water fountain delineated by fig trees, a civic area with an informal stage, and a central lawn.
The plans also feature densely planted garden beds intersected by low bridges, themed gardens with pergolas and informal lawn and water features, and potential area for market stalls.
A planner from Andrew Robinson Planning Services, on behalf of JMD Design and Penrith Council, said there were three main design features for City Park.
“Providing green amenity to the business district will improve pedestrian amenity, and provide a recreational space for workers and shoppers,” they said.
“It’s important the park responds to the severe temperatures Penrith is subject to by using prevailing winds and providing shade.
“(There is) provision for public art and cultural interpretation, including spaces for performance, murals, and sculptures.”
Penrith Mayor Karen McKeown said the DA was an “exciting step” towards the delivery of a “vibrant and green heart in our City Centre”.
“City Park will create a destination which gives our city centre a competitive edge in attracting visitors, shoppers and workers,” she said.
“More people in the centre will stimulate the day and night economy and deliver a much-needed boost to local businesses.
“City Park will also play an important role in cooling the city – green open space, natural shade from tree canopies, and water features will work together to mitigate the heat island effect and create a cool refuge.”
Construction on City Park is expected to begin later this year and be finished by early 2023.
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