Centennial Park's first master plan on public exhibition

The draft Centennial Park Master Plan 2040, providing the community with an opportunity to help shape the future of Australia's most historic public park, has gone on public exhibition.

Announcing the display, which can be viewed at the Park and on the internet, Centennial Parklands Director and Chief Executive Kim Ellis stated "Centennial Park holds a special place in Australian history and in the hearts and minds of the community.

"We have the opportunity to help shape the future for this 125 year old public park and ensure it has a sustainable future.

"Originally given as a gift to the community to mark the 100th anniversary of European settlement in this nation, it was then chosen as the site for the inauguration of the Federation of Australia this makes the Park the birthplace of modern Australia.

"We want to make Centennial Park locally valued, nationally significant and internationally recognised Sydney deserves nothing less, and we should not take for granted what we have."

"There is expected to be intense interest in this draft master plan and I thank the community for their involvement and input so far in helping create this draft plan.

"We are focussed on is how we can retain and reinforce the good that the Park provides the community. I now encourage all who are interested in the future of this great place to review the plan and have their say."

"Importantly, the draft plan aims to conserve what the community loves about the Park, and where there are areas that we can improve, we've provided concepts of how we could improve them.

"Centennial Park does not have a current master plan, so this process will help to provide more certainty and direction for what is one of the world's best urban parks."

Key features of the Master Plan include:

A more wilder outer park, with a curated inner park to strengthen the original intent of the Park's tree planting character

Improving traffic flow, circulation and improvements to cars, bikes and motorists, changes to parking that will see a minor reduction in car spaces to help improve the condition of trees on Grand Drive

Upgrading and improving the pedestrian experience, and formalising many years of informal paths that have been created by visitor's 'desire lines'

Reinforcing many of the aspects of recent intent to see Centennial Park seen as a centre of excellence for children's connection with nature in Sydney.

The Master Plan can be viewed at in-park exhibition, with the chance to meet the planners, in Centennial Park from Saturday 5th to Sunday 13th and, until 29th October 2013 at

http://www.centennialparklands.com.au/cpmp