Blackheath Soldiers Memorial Park

No need for more shelters

definitely no need for more shelters. There are plenty of tree and bushy areas to shade under

That brick shelter....

Its a bit gloomy; how about retro-fitting glass brick panels/windows in the back

the shelters and shade are just all that is needed the present shelters are in need of tiding up and if the council would do more at looking

dont waste money on new structures more maintenance or in 20 years time the council will have to do it over again maitain what we have be proactive

dare I say...

Deciduous trees are rather good at providing shade in summer & letting through warmth & light in winter. And this Park is 70% deciduous trees ...so, why not take a punt, sit under a tree, feel the earth beneath you. There are quite a few about! It can even be a pleasant experience in the rain :) No more artificial shade structures thank you very much!

I love the park just as it is, please do not concrete over our park with an 'accessible loop track' . My son and I use the park everyday.

Its more restoring the loop walk

no need to waste money.

part of the character of the area is one of natural environment watch where you walk the council is not able to make every part of the park for every person again another waste of money and changing the park to something you will find in Double Bay we are in a national park

If the water issues are dealt with there is no need for new paths

Fix the "Menin" or King George Gate

This structure has been allowed to decay - fix it under the previous management plan and get more community involvement

Keep it unique

Having a sensitively located, well designed, non-dominating toilet block in a higher traffic area would be great. Please make it uniquely Blackheath and fun. I also love the toilets behind rhododendron sign but agree that it's time to do something better, particularly for our children. (Council has done a good job on the Lawson toilet block).

Near the duck pond for accessibility. But keep others where they are nowso we keep the "toilets behind rhododendrons" sign (it's so quaint)!

Most urgent update is the need for toilet facilities close to the play area - could even be a tourist attraction with a slide off the roof,,

The toilets need to be closer to bbq and play areas, self cleaning toilets would be a great idea.

Agree with everyone who says close to the main use areas - but do they have to be a 'block' -something more creative like the ones at Lawson

Toilets don't need to be an ugly 'BLOCK' - creative design can make them attractive

Duck board or bridges

Or a raised boardwalk across the wet area?

Pool NOT a foreign country!

It needs to be acknowledged that the Pool is an integral element of the Park and that its planning, maintenance and management needs always to be included in all Park planning conversations. The Pool may have a fence around it, but it is NOT a foreign country! It is the heart of the Park.

remove the dysfunctional path

Remove the dysfunctional path in the NW corner of the Park, above The Pool. It acts as a dam to natural water movements water. It is slippery with algae all year round, rendering it unusable, there is a perfectly serviceable path leading down from Gardiner Crescent bus shelter, via the 'wishing well' to the Pool entry. This path serves absolutely no logical function.

Duck pond area

It would be lovely to see the area around the duck pond a bit softer and greener with less concrete and more access to the pond. On Prince Edward Street by the pond could we have more greener areas, lower fencing and less ash felt between the road, car parking areas and the pond? The fence could be moved out a little and a gate put in so people could access the pond area if they wanted to and sit by the water? The pond itself is a great protected area for the ducks from dog attack so needs to retain a little fence, but it does not need to be so ugly?

Pool is an integral element of the Park

It needs to be acknowledged that the Pool is an integral element of the Park and that its planning, maintenance and management needs to be included in all Park planning conversations. The Pool may have a fence around it, but it is NOT a foreign country! It is the heart of the Park.

Shaded areas, more equipment for kids and exercise equipment for adults.

Toilets should be near the play area . Little children often need a toilet quickly!

Blackheath Soldiers Memorial Park HERITAGE SIGNIFICANCE

Please action the 2009 decision to develop a LANDSCAPE masterplan. This will guide all development ideas floated here. Most critical to my mind being paying heed to local, state & national heritage listing of many elements of the Park. Respect should be paid to the 'garden rooms' layout, as advised in 1921 by James Dawes, Superintendent of Centennial Park, who came to Blackheath to outline the potential and suitability of the land to create a unique park. And respect should also be paid to community affection for the Soldiers Memorial Park one hundred years on, and succession planting of aging memorial Rhododendrons and trees, many also reaching their centenaries. Historical significance of Blackheath Memorial Park is documented on the NSW Office of Environment & Heritage database. The database Statement of Significance is: "Blackheath Memorial Park has a high degree of historic, social and aesthetic value and has been an important site in the development of the Blackheath township since the late 1860s. It has supported dams, essential in the establishment of the railway through the township, has been a golf course and since the early 1920s has provided the largest, most central and best designed reserve grounds for the local community." Bh023 : Memorial Park listing Bh184 : Blackheath Memorial Park War Memorial Steps listing Bh185 : Blackheath Memorial Park Gates listing Bh186 : Blackheath Memorial Park Pool Pavilion listing http://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/heritageapp/ViewHeritageItemDetails.aspx?ID=1172041 Blackheath Memorial Park listing on Australian Heritage Council database http://www.ahc.gov.au/cgi-bin/register/site.pl?102234

The impact of stormwater from the park into Popes Glen should be mitigated with soft engineering that reinstates some of the natural values

Connect heritage and natural values of the park through creative design and connect the park with downstream recreation areas such as Pope's Glen area and walking tracks