Project History
The Kyneton Community Playground Group formed in 2007 out of the Strengthening Families Project, facilitated by Cobaw Community Health. The initial focus of the Group was to improve playground provisions in the township of Kyneton. After much lobbying in the local community, the group was granted in principle support to design and develop a new district level playground by the Macedon Ranges Shire Council (MRSC) in November, 2008. The MRSC stipulated two conditions; that the new community space incorporates equipment and facilities suitable for use for the significant proportion of our community who are aged 65 and that the choice of site for the park be determined by community consultation.
With the Strengthening Families Project coming to an end in June, 2009, the Group established an independent committee and sought incorporation under the new banner “Kyneton Community Park”, which was granted in July 2009. The name “Community Park” was chosen to emphasise that the space is not just for children, but the whole community.
Community Consultation
During May-July 2009 the Group undertook a community consultation process to determine:
a) the features/amenities that are important in a park,
b) the preferred site for the Park (choice of 8).
The survey was sent to 200 community groups and 3000 households. In addition, the group held public meetings to inform people of the intentions for the park and the attributes of the various sites. The process received a strong response, not only in terms of forms returned, but ‘word about town’. A further feasibility study was conducted by members of the committee and from this and the survey, the four top sites were chosen. These nominations were forwarded to council who organised an independent site analysis, undertaken by members of the Gisborne Adventure Playground and Woodend Children’s Park Groups.
After consideration of the comments made in the public survey, a further site was put forwarded by the Macedon Ranges Shire Council and the Friends of the Gardens. This is a grassed area within the Kyneton Caravan Park, which is due for closure and repatriation by the end of 2010. The Caravan Park site, situated at the southern end of Ebden Street, is adjacent to the Kyneton Botanic gardens and the historic Piggery Shed and Oval, near the Campaspe River.
The natural beauty and existing facilities of this site rank it clearly above the sites previously considered. The Kyneton Community Park Group is excited by the possibilities this site presents and will be nominating it as the preferred option in their report, to be heard at the October 28th MRS Council meeting. The committee will work closely with the Shire, the Friends of the Botanic Gardens and the Campaspe Riverwalk Groups in the planning of this site, with respect to horticultural, heritage and cultural concerns. The Piggery Oval will be left an open space for running and ball play, and the permanent caravan sites will be revegetated.