Toowoomba Regional Council endorses $1.8m master plan for Carly Hibberd Park

A decade after cyclist Carly Hibberd was tragically killed, a park named in her honour will receive major upgrades from the Toowoomba Regional Council.

PLANNED: Upgrades are coming to Carly Hibberd Park, after the Toowoomba Regional Council endorsed a master plan worth $1.8m.

New playgrounds, dog off-leash areas, toilet blocks and other amenities will be part of the Toowoomba Regional Council’s $1.8m upgrade of a major park in the city’s southern suburbs.

Councillors this week endorsed the master plan for Carly Hibberd Park in Kearneys Spring, which will be completed over the next 10 to 20 years as part of the council’s open space strategy.

Councillor Tim McMahon said a number of improvements were part of the master plan, with funding to start being allocated from next financial year.

“New features are likely to include shaded playgrounds for both older and younger children, picnic facilities including shelters, picnic tables and barbecues, walking and cycling paths, formalised parking, a three cubicle toilet block and landscaping,” he said.

“There will be open space for a kick-about section in the north part of the park and a dog off-leash area to the south.

“The open space and picnic facilities have been designed to accommodate large family gatherings.”

It comes 10 years after the park’s namesake and celebrated Toowoomba cyclist Carly Hibberd was killed while out riding in July 2011.

Mr McMahon said a contemplative garden of native shrubs and interpretative signage would be built in her honour.