Hindmarsh Park concept designs released

Kiama Council

Hindmarsh Park

Council has received funding from the NSW Government’s Public Spaces Legacy Program to make improvements to Hindmarsh Park. The first phase of consultation for the upgrade was undertaken over December and January. More than 350 submissions were received during the consultation period.

Council is now excited to share the proposed concept designs for the Hindmarsh Park and Black Beach Reserve upgrades. The designs have been guided by the community’s desires for improved facilities for picnicking and outdoor dining including additional seating, a new shade structure, improved lighting and opportunities for night time dining. The designs also include new paths within the park and connecting to Black Beach Reserve.

The concept designs include a substantial upgrade to the existing play space in Hindmarsh Park. The concept designs for the play space include new water play and nature play elements, which the community told us were highly desirable.

The designs include a major upgrade to the overall accessibility of the play space including a new accessible toilet located close to the upgraded play space. The accessibility improvements have been guided by NSW Government’s new Everyone Can Play best practice guidelines.

Based on feedback received from the community, the Orry Kelly stage has been retained in its current location and will be upgraded including replacing the existing shade canopy. There will also benew path connections to the stage.

Upgrades to the foreshore at Black Beach Reserve was something else the community told us they would like to see. The design for Black Beach Reserve includes a new interface between the reserve and the water, which will encourage people to explore the beautiful black sands of the harbour, restore the local foreshore ecology including new tidal pools and distinctive local salt marsh vegetation. There will also be new seating, path upgrades and improvements to the layout of the reserve to facilitate the popular Seaside and Makers and Growers markets.

The concept designs are now on our Hindmarsh Park upgrade project page and a community information session will be announced soon.

David Knights from landscape design consultants Civille, who are undertaking the upgrade on behalf of Kiama Council, commented that the “the concept designs have been inspired by the natural history of Kiama including its harbour, its distinctive basalt geology and local vegetation. The play space designs engage with Kiama’s cultural heritage including its rich indigenous and non-indigenous history.”

/Public Release. View in full here.