Gold Street Community Park, Fremantle
The renewal of Gold Street Community Park exemplifies the large-scale impacts made possible by community-led initiatives. Its upgrade, which was undertaken in collaboration with the local authority via a facilitated co-design (and co-build!) process, led to a series of win-win outcomes for both the local residents and City of Fremantle.
Located at the corner of Gold and Francisco streets in South Fremantle, the pocket park is a highly-valued green asset for its neighbours. With play spaces, grassy lawns, shaded areas, plenty of seating options and a quirky mix of textures, materials and unexpected details, the park both responds to and reflects its context.
UDLA and EarthCare Landscapes facilitated the design and construction of the park upgrade. The co-design process involved four participatory workshops, with community members at the helm. Photo: UDLA, 2013
The pocket park’s story began a few decades ago, when local architect Gerard McCann and a group of residents transformed an abandoned block into a shared green space. In 2013, the park was still well-used and much-loved, but in need of revitalisation. Alongside collaborators EarthCare Landscapes, UDLA was engaged to facilitate a transparent co-design process for its renewal.
And then, alongside collaborators EarthCare Landscapes, local community volunteers and businesses, and with the support of the City of Freo, we all pitched in and got our hands dirty to get it built over a series of weekend busy bees.
Careful spatial planning resulted in nearly all of the existing vegetation being retained, including striking Rottnest Island Tea Trees (Melaleuca lanceolata).
The retained trees and recycled materials define the qualities of the site, with new elements taking cues from their character. A limestone seating wall has been built as a continuation of the windswept form of the Tea Tree, creating a shady spot for locals to sit and gather.
Gold Street Park provides its neighbourhood with a unique green asset that has been purpose-built for local needs, over which the community feels a strong sense of pride and ownership.
Awards:
2017 Australian Institute of Landscape Architects (AILA) National Award of Excellence for Community Contribution
2017 Australian Institute of Landscape Architects (AILA) WA Award of Excellence for Community Contribution
Details:
Client: City of Fremantle
Aboriginal Country: Whadjuk Noongar Country
Location: Fremantle, Western Australia
Dates: 2013 - 2017
Collaborators: EarthCare Landscape, Friends of Gold Street Park, Ecoburbia, Fremantle Local community and businesses
Photography: Yvonne Doherty, EarthCare, Kali Balint, South Freo Community Residents