New images released of first public park planned for the CBD since 1980

MELBOURNE CBD is set for its first public park since 1980 as new design images are released. But motorists will be affected by the planned green space.

Artist image of proposed new park in Market St next to Collins Arch development.

FRESH images of a proposed new park for the CBD have been released.

About 1900 sqm of public space will be created on the western side of Market St and integrated with the $1.25 billion Collins Arch project, also known as the Pantscraper.

It will be the first public park in the Hoddle Grid since City Square was developed in 1980, providing a green link between Collins St and Flinders Lane.

MARKET ST COULD BE CLOSED TO TRAFFIC UNDER CITY PARK PLAN

CONTROVERSIAL ‘PANTSCRAPER’ PROJECT GIVEN GREEN LIGHT

COLLINS ARCH TO BECOME ONE OF MELBOURNE’S BEST WORKPLACES

Artist image of proposed new park in Market St next to Collins Arch development.

City of Melbourne councillors will consider the design at a Future Melbourne committee meeting on Tuesday.

It features wide bluestone paths, new seating, public event space and better pedestrian access to public transport.

Vehicles will be restricted to one lane in Market St under the park plan.

Cars will not be able to travel north on Market St, while the eastern side of the road will be transformed into a single lane for southbound traffic, new bike lanes and kerbside parking.

Lord Mayor Sally Capp said it was rare to design a new public park in the CBD, especially of such size and quality.

“The park is proposed to be almost the same size as City Square, and will provide much needed public open space for the 1500 residents, workers and visitors who pass through the area every hour,” she said.

Cbus Property’s Collins Arch project will transform the western end of Collins St.

Collins Arch is under construction and will include apartments, offices and a five-star W Melbourne hotel.

The project’s collaborators are Cbus Property, ISPT, Woods Bagot and New York-based ShoP Architects.

Cbus Property CEO Adrian Pozzo said the park design, by landscape architects Oculus, drew inspiration from the “materiality and colour pallette of Melbourne’s CBD, as well as the iconic

design of Collins Arch”.

“The new park will create a significant open space in Melbourne’s CBD and help increase walkability in the western end of the CBD and connectivity throughout the grid,” he said.

Collins Arch is due to be completed in late 2019 and the park is expected to be open in 2020.

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