Carlton car parking to make way for green space

DOZENS of car parking spaces will be lost under a $3 million revamp of a key Carlton park to meet increasing demand for public open space.

DOZENS of car parking spaces will be lost under a $3 million revamp of a key Carlton park.

Melbourne City Council plans to expand Lincoln Square by 28 per cent to meet increasing demand for public open space.

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A report to go before a council meeting next week said the extra 3000sqm of open space would be achieved by removing 15m of roadway.

This would mean the loss of 65 car spaces, mostly on the central island, resulting in an annual loss of $300,000 asking revenue.

“(This) would occur in the context of other car parking loss that is proposed or under way in the immediate area associated with projects including the Metro Tunnel Project (189) on Queensbridge and Grattan streets and the University Square Master Plan (177) on Barry and Leicester streets,” the report said.

An artist’s impression of the expanded Lincoln Square park.

A concept plan for the expanded Lincoln Square park.

It said community consultation had revealed strong support for the draft park plan “with no negative feedback about parking loss”.

Acting Lord Mayor Arron Wood said the council was returning Lincoln Square to its glory days as a pivotal location for Melburnians.

“It was our very first playground for children,” he said.

“And I hope that it will again claim its premier position as we retain the 150-year-old Moreton Bay fig trees, expand the children’s playground and integrate hi-tech features, such as stormwater tanks, solar lighting, wi-fi and USB phone charging ports.”

Cr Wood said the world’s great cities were expanding their parks.

“We are continuing our vision of turning under-utilised asphalt into open space,” he said.

In recent years, Lincoln Square has been a popular spot for skateboarders amid complaints some of them had damaged a memorial for Bali bombing victims.

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@JMasanauskas