With a nod to cricket’s most famous international contest, two sports fields at Jells Park in Melbourne’s south-east are undergoing a transformation.
The Ashes and The Oaks ovals will be upgraded through a $4 million investment by the Victorian Government that will provide more opportunities for the community to get active outdoors.
The project will rejuvenate Jells Park’s northern and southern grounds by upgrading them with fit-for-purpose synthetic cricket pitches designed so they can be used by local clubs during Melbourne’s busy cricket season.
The project, currently in the planning and assessments phase, will also construct a small pavilion to house player facilities.
In addition to cricket clubs, the broader sports fields will be able to accommodate a range of different sports and recreational activities – meaning they can be enjoyed by whole community all year round.
The ovals add to a range of projects taking place at Jells Park to keep the site a special place for Melburnians to get into nature.
The beautiful park on Wurundjeri Country will also soon be home to new shared-use trails, providing opportunities for walkers, runners and cyclists to meander through nature, while preserving important habitat for local flora and fauna. The community has helped shape the project’s design, which can be viewed on the Engage Victoria webpage.
As part of the $21 million Urban Parks Active Wellbeing program new and improved barbecues, drinking fountains, picnic tables have already been installed across the park. Toilets that can be used by park visitors of all abilities will also be constructed in late 2023.
