Work commences on construction of Penrith’s new City Park

Work has commenced on the construction of Penrith’s new City Park with the design and features set to transform the City Centre and encourage visitation to stimulate the local day and night time economy.

The 7,000 sqm park on the corner of Henry and Station Streets will become a vibrant, green space for residents, visitors and workers to enjoy featuring a central lawn with significant tree canopy cover, themed gardens, public artwork, shaded areas, water elements including misting clusters and ponds, amenities building with green roof, seating and civic area.

Community consultation helped shape the City Park design. The detailed design was released in late 2020 and provided Council with an exciting glimpse into the future of the new park.

Throughout consultations the community expressed a strong desire for City Park to bring nature into the city. The design responds to this by significantly increasing the tree canopy on the site celebrating the existing tree on site and proposing a combination of endemic, ornate, and deciduous trees which enables use of the park through all seasons.

A variety of water elements including misting clusters and ponds are also featured to provide interactive opportunities, particularly in warm weather. This increase in greenery, tree canopy and water elements will have a positive impact on mitigating the heat island effect and cooling the City.

Penrith Mayor Tricia Hitchen said the park will attract more people to Penrith’s CBD and have positive flow on effects for surrounding businesses.

The design delivers on Council’s vision and the community’s aspirations for City Park to service many functions including an understanding of how future redevelopment surrounding the park can be integrated.

Mayor Hitchen notes “City Park will stimulate the local day and night time economy by encouraging people to venture further into the CBD and discover all the fantastic shops, cafes and restaurants on offer.

“Its prime position opposite Westfield, in the City Centre, and a short walk from the station makes it the perfect spot to meet up, relax, be entertained, get active and hold community events.” 

Penrith City Council is contributing $12.6 million to the project, with the NSW Government contributing an additional $4 million through the Public Spaces Legacy Program.

Local State Member for Penrith Stuart Ayres advised that Penrith’s new City Park, co-funded by the NSW Government, is about creating a wonderful public amenity and shared open space.

Additional parking was constructed on Woodriff Street last year to offset the small section of parking lost in the development of City Park.

The Allen Place laneway is also being revitalised as part of the project. It will be widened to allow for two-way traffic and refurbished with a paved footpath, vehicle loading bay area, mountable kerb, garden beds, and trees.

City Park will open in 2023.

For more information visit: penrith.city/citypark

Image top and centre: Artist Impressions of City Park with developed trees; Image above  Member for Penrith Stuart Ayres and Penrith Mayor Tricia Hitchen turn the first sod at the City Park site.