Cumberland City Council has applied placemaking initiatives to upgrade Wyatt Park in Lidcombe, NSW, to reconnect the community, foster a sense of unity and showcase the city as an exciting and safe destination for Sydneysiders.
The upgrade includes footpaths to connect the walking corridor and a new cyclist respite area with a drinking fountain for people and their pets, bicycle parking racks and a community bike repair station.
Council has also installed a bright and colourful footpath mural stretching more than 30 metres, with a design by local artist GEEBS highlighting the sporting history of the park including the beloved Western Suburbs Magpies rugby team.
Street Furniture Australia worked with Council to visualise furniture options and layouts including colourful yet durable seating, tables, bicycle parking, planters and a drinking fountain with dog bubbler.
Christopher Manoski, Senior Coordinator Place and Engagement with Cumberland City Council, says, “The design visualisation service was fantastic. It made the furniture selection process much easier for the team, especially when it came to layout and colours.
“The Street Furniture Australia team were amazing to work with and provided some great examples of furniture and even offered tailoring services. Based on the brief and budget we gave, they were able to provide a visualisation of the area and the proposed furniture.”
Low maintenance materials selected for the Linea Seats, Linea Cubes and Linea Bicycle Stands include aluminium Spotted Gum battens, with DuraBright Lycra Strip Green and Textura Woodland Grey continued across the Frame Planters, Arqua Dog Bubbler, Cafe Table and Stools.
Christopher says the community has welcomed the new space: “We have had nothing but positive feedback from the community, it is being used often by pedestrians and cyclists and we have had so many positive comments about the mural,” he said.
Wyatt Park footpath mural. Photo: Cumberland City Council.
