Placemaking Projects

Construction is complete and the newly refurbished Sturt Park is now open to the community!

To determine how much you like the upgraded park, the City of Parramatta collaborated with Place Score to complete a 'Park Score Before and After Assessment'.

This assessment was piloted at Sturt Park and included an online survey accessed through QR posters installed onsite.

Visitors to Sturt Park rated it 8.1/10 in 2022, which is a 3.8 point increase from the 4.3/10 rating achieved in 2021. To learn more, click on the before and after assessments below!

Construction is complete and the newly refurbished Acacia Park is now open to the community.

Construction at Acacia Park has been underway since March and was making good progress until construction at the site was paused due to the COVID-19 outbreak in line with health orders as they apply to the site.

The improved Acacia Park features barbeques, picnic tables, benches, new toilet facilities, a new walking track with blocks for strength training and resting, and an accessible platform with a unique view of the Parramatta CBD.

The upgrades are being funded by the NSW Government through its Precinct Support Scheme.

Completed December 2022

In late 2022, City of Parramatta Council invited you to help an artist commissioned by Council design a mural for Boronia Grove Community Centre in Epping! The artist collaborated with young people and the residents of Epping to create a design that brings vibrancy and energy to Epping.

The brief

A playful, energetic, interactive mural that uses all or parts of the exterior northern wall.

Themes to explore

Epping's heritage, multicultural community and intergenerational families.

The artist

Artist Damien Mitchell was selected (via an EOI process - now closed) to deliver the mural. His role involved including, understanding Epping and collaborating with the community.

The Boronia Grove Community Centre is owned by the City of Parramatta and is located in the heart of Epping (40 Victoria Street, Epping) within 5 minutes’ walk from Epping train station.

The newly refurbished centre has five community meeting rooms, one arts room, two office spaces and a café space.

The Centre is adjacent to a Council owned open-air car park to the north; an area of remnant blue gum high forest trees directly adjoining the building to the east; a residential tower to the south; and the Council-owned Boronia Park to the west.

The front entry to the building is on the eastern side. A café is located on the western side and has its own discrete entry. The wall is around 6.8m high and 21.2m in length.

Construction is now complete. The project includes upgraded streetscape, amenities block, fenced playground, and additional 24 car parking spots for customers.

The recently upgraded playground at Carmen Reserve by the City of Parramatta is now open for play. The playground focuses on natural play, and includes a variety of climbing and balancing options for children 4 years and up.

The Playground is a multifunctional piece of playground equipment with many options that develop children’s motor skills. The various climbing sections are organised in the form of routes providing diverse forms of exercise and fosters the children’s imaginations.
 

Carmen Drive Upgrade Recognised!

City of Parramatta was recently been awarded two awards for the Carmen Drive Shops and Reserve Upgrade.

The awards included Institute of 2021 Public Works Engineering Australasia NSW & ACT Award in the Category of ‘Community Precinct Award’, the second Greater Sydney Commission Planning Awards 2021 in the category of 'Great Community Collaboration'.

This project is a true testament of the community working with council do deliver a great result, the project included upgrade to the streetscape, new fenced playground, picnic tables, signage, an amenities block and additional parking for customers.

In May 2020, Council will commence construction on the first stage of the Phillip Street ‘Smart Street’ project. Stage 1 of the project will span the southern side of Phillip Street between Church and Smith Streets.

It will include widening of the southern side of Philip Street to accommodate an expanded new public domain with the capacity for outdoor dining, multifunction poles, smart technology and ‘connected’ street furniture, and a new urban forest of mature street trees.

The project was driven by Council research indicating that CBD residents, workers and visitors want more outdoor dining, vibrancy, cafes, shade, greenery and seating within the CBD.

For more details, see the Phillip Street design for consultation.

Community consultation for this project occurred in late 2019 for the upgrade to the shops. The design for the upgrade to the shops was finalised in December 2019, it was great to see so many community members give their feedback regarding the upgrade.  

Construction commenced in April 2020 was completed in August 2020. The Official opening happened in 2021. The upgrade has provided the following for the community new pavement, accessible car spaces, new plants, lights, bike racks, picnic shelters, street library, birdbath street furniture and new access ramp.

Throw on your khakis and get ready for a spot of wildlife watching at John Wearn Reserve in Carlingford with the newly upgraded park’s exciting safari-themed playground.

The playground – which is decorated with an assortment of animal statues, including an elephant, zebra, monkey and lion – is part of a $5.2 million refurbishment of the park.

The Reserve upgrade also features a dog park, amenities block, carpark, skate park, fitness station, multi-use court, barbecue facilities, and picnic shelters. A stage with amphitheatre seating is in the final phase of construction.

“I am delighted that our community will be able to enjoy the fantastic new facilities at John Wearn Reserve,” City of Parramatta Lord Mayor Cr Bob Dwyer said.

“More people than ever are using parks for recreation and physical activity due to the COVID-19 pandemic and our community, particularly Carlingford and North Rocks residents, are very excited to see this fantastic new facility open.

“Council has undergone extensive consultation to ensure the upgrades meet the current and future needs of our diverse and growing community. The revamped John Wearn Reserve is a space everyone can be proud of.“

These major renovations were completed as part of the City of Parramatta’s North Rocks Park Precinct Masterplan and were co-funded by Council and a NSW Government Stronger Communities Fund grant.

Baulkham Hills State Liberal MP David Elliott said that the upgrades would help create a more vibrant and inclusive local community.

“Public spaces have always been important to community health, wellbeing and prosperity, and the new and improved upgrades to John Wearn Reserve will deliver a vibrant revitalised space for recreation, leisure, and physical activity in the Carlingford and North Rocks communities,” Mr Elliott said.

For more details, see the John Wearn Reserve concept plan.

Construction is commenced in January 2020 and is now complete the scope of works is centred around improving access from the adjoining reserve the shops, streetscape works and improved garden beds. 

Consultation with the shopkeepers, residents, customers and shop keepers occurred 2018. The final concept was endorsed in 2019, with the community fully supporting the much needed access improvements and upgrade. 

The completed the work will improve access from the adjoining reserve the shops with the construction of new stairs, streetscape works, new seating area, and improved garden beds.

For more details, see the Ventura Road Shops concept plan.

The City of Parramatta has now completed upgrading Max Ruddock Reserve in Winston Hills! Feedback from the community has helped shape the designs for the park.

With a new play space, including a basket swing, nature play areas, climbing structure and slide, plus new fitness equipment, accessible pathways and picnic area, the community is sure to love the upgraded park.

Fitness equipment, a new playground and connecting footpaths have now been built at Max Ruddock Reserve in Winston Hills, with a new ball fence already completed. Council expects the project will be finished by the end of 2020. In early 2021, Council will start to consult with local sports clubs and our community for the amenities building upgrade.

Awarded Winner of the 2021 AILA NSW Landscape Architecture Award for Small Projects!

Projects in this category include those considered to be 'small' in terms of size or budget. Projects are recognised that have been constrained by size or budget restrictions, but have achieved a level of invention and creativity beyond these constraints.
 

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Street Libraries are beautiful homes for books and gives you access to free books and provide you with the chance to experience the joy of reading while getting out and about in your local area.
 

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