Dear Community Member,

Thank you very much for your interest and your feedback on the Ewen Park Outdoor Education Meeting Space project, and your valuable feedback on Council’s design proposal for the site. This email is to give you council’s response to community feedback.

The community at Hurlstone Park was engaged digitally on Council’s Have Your Say (HYS) (due to COVID-19 restrictions) from the 30th September 2020 to 26th October 2020 for the project. Council received 33 formal submissions, as well as 11 detailed submissions during the exhibition period.

The community is overall supportive of the project and the steps council is taking to upgrade the Ewen Park area. Through the engagement process feedback was provided about the design from the community. As a result, council is currently updating and evolving the design based on the feedback received.

The revised design will incorporate more colours and natural materials, both into the Outdoor learning structure as well as the hardscape to address the community’s feedback. Concrete usage in the space will be broken up with numerous spaces for planting and the integration of crushed granite around the seating area. Graphics and textures that are playful will be incorporated, as well as a bike track for kids, which will further break up the concrete area.

The community expressed the desire to include different types of activities and games for kids of various age. Based on this feedback, Council will look to include a learn to ride track into the design, and to activate the space by including spaces for rest, group gatherings and informal play into the project.

The proposed design addresses the history of the site through the fluid form of the landscape and the proposed outdoor learning space is a response to the flow of the river. In addition, artwork has been commissioned for the project to respond to the history and context of the site. The artwork is currently being developed.

There were some feedback questioning the need for the toilet facility. The one accessible toilet proposed is designed to support the meeting space. It is a necessary part of the design as it will enhance the use and enjoyment of the space for the community. The existing toilet facilities are at the other end of Ewen Park and it is too far to this space. The building footprint of the toilet is minimal and is designed to be attractive.

Some feedback requested informal and social gatherings that are supported by amenities including picnic tables and shade. The current design supports a number of informal and social gathering spaces in the proposed landscape outdoor rooms and the Outdoor education structure supports more formal group meetings. In terms of picnic tables, Ewen Park already has a number of picnic tables and shade structures adjacent the project site. In addition to shade structures which includes the Outdoor education structure, the design will cater to numerous deep planting zones where trees will be planted to provide shade.

While there will not be a permanent café or coffee kiosk on the site, Council will provide services provision for a coffee / food cart if there is a demand in the future. The space will be lit until 6pm in winter and 8pm in summer.

Should you wish to discuss further please contact us on haveyoursay@cbcity.nsw.gov.au.