Tara Murray
Two new pocket parks to be built in Brimbank have received more than $1 million each in state government funding.
The pocket parks, to be built in Cary Street, Sunshine North and Leslie Street, St Albans, will include community event areas, landscaping and greenery, improved pedestrian connections, seating, shade, play areas and drinking fountains.
They are among 13 new spaces and five off-leash dog parks to be established across Melbourne with a $15 million government contribution announced last week.
Pocket parks are created by repurposing unused land in built-up areas to create green space. Local councils were invited to nominate sites for the new parks as part of the Suburban Parks Program.
Minister for Energy, Environment and Climate Change Lily D’Ambrosio said the COVID-19 pandemic last year highlighted the importance of having open green space close to home.
“These parks will create local jobs while they’re being built, boost surrounding local businesses and provide social, health and wellbeing benefits for families and their pets for years to come,” she said.
The $154 million Suburban Parks Program will create 6500 hectares of public open space including parkland and trails.
A new dog park and a pocket park were both funded in Brimbank in the first round of funding.
The dog park will be located at Kevin Flint Memorial Reserve. Feedback on the draft concept design closed late last month.
A pocket park was approved for the corner of Glengala Road and Gum Street.
The project will include the conversion of an existing traffic island, and a small portion of Gum Street road reserve into a pocket park.
A section of Gum Street will be discontinued due to the new park.
