A REGIONAL park would bring North Lakes and surrounds closer together, community leaders say.
Mother of five and administrator of the North Lakes Community Parents and Business Facebook page Sarah Crawford called for a venue similar to Pine Rivers Park, with shaded barbecue areas, play equipment for all ages and open space for a casual game of basketball or footy.
“People love the community spirit here and if there’s something in town like what we’re suggesting, it will bring everyone even closer together,” she said.
Mrs Crawford said North Lakes could host Christmas carols and other community events once the open space next to North Lakes Town Common was developed.
Mango Hill Progress Association president Laurence Christie said he was in favour of large parks.
“Small parks are OK for small kids and for a small familiesy but not suitable for communities as a whole,” he said.
Moreton Bay Regional councillor Julie Greer (Div 4) said there was 485ha of dedicated parkland across Mango Hill, North Lakes and Griffin.
She said the planned Griffin Sports Complex and Environmental Reserve would cover 92.2ha and would be was “more than just a sporting facility” and w ould include play equipment, walking trails and picnic facilities.
She said council’s draft Local Government Infrastructure Plan identified 15 open space projects at Mango Hill and Griffin.
The biggest parks in North Lakes, Mango Hill and Griffin were North Lakes Town Park (Lake Eden) at 10ha; Aurora Blvd Park at 6ha; and Halpine Lake Reserve at 8.4ha.
The council’s 2016-17 budget provided $2.8 million towards the Kinsellas Sports Fields, $125,000 towards the development of sportsgrounds at Aurora Blvd Park, and $65,000 for the North Lakes Youth Space, on Endeavour Blvd, which is run by the YMCA.
COMMUNITY WISHLIST
■ Adventure playground
■ Climbing frames
■ Community garden
■ Botanical gardens
■ Shaded barbecue areas
■ Water play park
■ Walking tracks
■ Space for children to play informal sport
AN EXPERT on the effects of nature in urban areas described large parks as “outdoor community centres”.
Queensland University of Technology’s Dr Omniya El-Baghdadi said they were more exciting and had more to offer than smaller parks.
She said research showed parkland in built-up areas had the capacity to “bring people together and feel this sense of community”.
“It should have that community element and community investment, just getting people out there and connecting with each other,” she said.
“Urban parks should be available and readily accessible because people will exercise if it’s close and convenient.”
Originally Published: http://www.couriermail.com.au