Neighbourhood Parks Upgrades

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We are inviting the community to help shape the next stage of the Neighbourhood Parks Program, with draft playground designs now available for feedback.

We’re starting with Medlow Bath Park in Medlow Bath and Thomas Park in Blaxland East, where two exciting design options have been developed for each park based on what the community told us during the first round of consultation in 2024. These designs aim to reflect local priorities, provide inclusive play opportunities, and complement nearby recreational spaces.

Now, it’s time to choose your preferred design. Your feedback will help determine the final look and feel of this much-loved local park.

Design options for Golden Horizons Park is open until 16 June 2025.
Join us on-site at Golden Horizons from 11am to 2pm, Saturday 31 May to review the draft designs in person with Council staff.

Consultation for Medlow Bath Park is open from 17 April until 21 May 2025.

Consultation for Thomas Park is open from 2 May until 28 May 2025.
Join us on-site at Thomas Park from 2:30pm to 5.30pm, Wednesday 21 May and 11am to 2pm, Saturday 24 May to review the draft designs in person with Council staff.

See below for the survey

Analysis of the results will be shared with the NSW Government, Western Sydney Infrastructure Grants program office. Your answers will be anonymised and will not be linked to you in any way that will identify you. More information about Blue Mountains City Council’s Privacy Policy is available here.

The survey will take approximately 2-3 minutes to complete.

If you would like assistance to complete this survey please contact Council on 02 4723 5000 or council@bmcc.nsw.gov.au. To assist our team to direct your enquiry, please quote the survey name 'Neighbourhood Parks Survey'.

Background

The Neighbourhood Parks Program is a four-year program aimed at enhancing our community's neighbourhood parks. The $6.1 million program is funded by the NSW Government’s Western Sydney Infrastructure Grant (WSIG) program.

Over the course of this program, Council will upgrade 16 parks across the four Wards of the Blue Mountains. In each Ward, there will be four parks upgraded - one each year, over four years.

The first round of consultation has taken place for the 2024 and 2025 parks: Medlow Park, Medlow Bath; Golden Horizons, Hazelbrook; Thomas Park, Blaxland East; Hall Park, Mount Riverview; Wilson Park, Wentworth Falls; Melrose Park, Katoomba.

While each park’s upgrade is subject to considerations due to budget, heritage and environmental considerations, your feedback will help us understand how our parks are used, how you would like to use them, and what you would like included in your parks.

The focus for these projects is on renewal of the things that are already in the park and has been developed with consideration of other potential grant sources which may be used for other needs at each facility.

It's important to remember that Council can't provide everything in any one neighbourhood park. We aim to provide a little bit of everything across the neighbourhood parks in each ward. When you think about what you would like in any park, please also consider what is already available in the other parks around you.

Each park has a budget of approximately $300,000 per park with a total budget for each ward of $1.2 million. The budget for each park may be adjusted, but the budget for each ward is fixed. If needed, unspent budget from some parks may be diverted to other parks within the same ward.

We are inviting the community to help shape the next stage of the Neighbourhood Parks Program, with draft playground designs now available for feedback.

We’re starting with Medlow Bath Park in Medlow Bath and Thomas Park in Blaxland East, where two exciting design options have been developed for each park based on what the community told us during the first round of consultation in 2024. These designs aim to reflect local priorities, provide inclusive play opportunities, and complement nearby recreational spaces.

Now, it’s time to choose your preferred design. Your feedback will help determine the final look and feel of this much-loved local park.

Design options for Golden Horizons Park is open until 16 June 2025.
Join us on-site at Golden Horizons from 11am to 2pm, Saturday 31 May to review the draft designs in person with Council staff.

Consultation for Medlow Bath Park is open from 17 April until 21 May 2025.

Consultation for Thomas Park is open from 2 May until 28 May 2025.
Join us on-site at Thomas Park from 2:30pm to 5.30pm, Wednesday 21 May and 11am to 2pm, Saturday 24 May to review the draft designs in person with Council staff.

See below for the survey

Analysis of the results will be shared with the NSW Government, Western Sydney Infrastructure Grants program office. Your answers will be anonymised and will not be linked to you in any way that will identify you. More information about Blue Mountains City Council’s Privacy Policy is available here.

The survey will take approximately 2-3 minutes to complete.

If you would like assistance to complete this survey please contact Council on 02 4723 5000 or council@bmcc.nsw.gov.au. To assist our team to direct your enquiry, please quote the survey name 'Neighbourhood Parks Survey'.

Background

The Neighbourhood Parks Program is a four-year program aimed at enhancing our community's neighbourhood parks. The $6.1 million program is funded by the NSW Government’s Western Sydney Infrastructure Grant (WSIG) program.

Over the course of this program, Council will upgrade 16 parks across the four Wards of the Blue Mountains. In each Ward, there will be four parks upgraded - one each year, over four years.

The first round of consultation has taken place for the 2024 and 2025 parks: Medlow Park, Medlow Bath; Golden Horizons, Hazelbrook; Thomas Park, Blaxland East; Hall Park, Mount Riverview; Wilson Park, Wentworth Falls; Melrose Park, Katoomba.

While each park’s upgrade is subject to considerations due to budget, heritage and environmental considerations, your feedback will help us understand how our parks are used, how you would like to use them, and what you would like included in your parks.

The focus for these projects is on renewal of the things that are already in the park and has been developed with consideration of other potential grant sources which may be used for other needs at each facility.

It's important to remember that Council can't provide everything in any one neighbourhood park. We aim to provide a little bit of everything across the neighbourhood parks in each ward. When you think about what you would like in any park, please also consider what is already available in the other parks around you.

Each park has a budget of approximately $300,000 per park with a total budget for each ward of $1.2 million. The budget for each park may be adjusted, but the budget for each ward is fixed. If needed, unspent budget from some parks may be diverted to other parks within the same ward.

  • Council will be holding a consultation at Goldon Horizons Saturday 31 May from 11am to 2pm for anyone wishing to discuss the designs in person

    In June 2024, Blue Mountains City Council undertook the first round of community consultation on the Neighbourhood Parks Upgrade of Golden Horizons in Hazelbrook.
    The survey offered respondents a list of potential inclusions in the upgrade and asked respondents to rank these inclusions in order or preferences.

    43% of respondents use Golden Horizons weekly.
    34% of respondents use Golden Horizons monthly.
    60% of respondents take children (0-10 years) to the park
    17% of respondents do not take children to the park. 

    The top three results in survey showed the following are the top three preferences for Golden Horizons. 

    1. Extensive refurbishment of play equipment
    2. Add a bubbler
    3. Add nature play – rocks, balance logs or similar

    It is important to remember this is a grant-funded project, so each park has a fixed budget and a defined scope of what can and cannot be included (for example, this project cannot address toilet facilities).

    The parks chosen for the program have been identified as having playground equipment that has reached the end of its serviceable life.  
    While a playground may still look serviceable at first glance, many of its components may be reaching the end of their intended lifespan, and age, wear, and evolving safety standards mean it is no longer suitable for long-term use.  

    Design statement

    The upgrade of Golden Horizons Park will include:

    • Moving the swings away further away from the creek into the same space as the other play equipment;
    • Replacement of all play space with new and modern equipment including a new accessible play features which will welcome all children;
    • A new bike track for developing riders to learn riding skills; and
    • Accessible parking on Redgum Avenue with a path to connect to seating and play equipment.

    This upgrade is intended to open the park and play space up to a wider range of visitors who will be able to safely access all the major features. There will be an excellent range of activities for younger children while also creating some social spaces for older children and teens away from the play space. The equipment is designed to create opportunities for a variety of play options:  

    • 'Moving the body' play may include the rock climbing features to develop strength, help develop risk management and are good for younger and older children.
    • 'Kinetic play' includes swings, slides and spring rockers to help develop balance skills.
    • 'Social Play and Imagination Play' will bring kids together to develop social and cooperation skills, and be spontaneous and creative.
    • 'Explorative play' is a hands-on investigation of the world around us.
    • There are also many spaces around the play space where kids can engage in self-directed learning about the environment.

    Council has listened to the community including gathering feedback from the local childcare centres about how the park is used for play and early childhood activities and also local residents who enjoy the beautiful trees and natural features of the park.

    Two options for Golden Horizons Park are presented below.  They both provide a bike loop, swings and climbing options, but respond to community input in different ways.

    Option one provides a playspace with the standard popular style of climbing and imaginative play. It incorporates a few nature-play components. The bike track has a street style, integrated street signs and line-marking to teach children road rules while also engaging the imagination.

    Option two provides a more challenging bike loop with low rollers, shallow berms and mounds which will help junior riders to develop cycling skills . The playspace elements include more nature play elements made from natural materials.

    Please take some time to check out the designs and share your thoughts with us through the survey.

    Site Map

    Option 1 below

    Option 2 below



     





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  • Join us on-site at Thomas Park from 2:30pm to 5pm, Wednesday 21 May and 11am to 2pm, Saturday 24 May to review the draft designs in person with Council staff. 

    Last year, we undertook the first round of community consultation on the Neighbourhood Parks Upgrade of Thomas Park in Blaxland East. Thomas Park is one of 16 parks across the Blue Mountains that are being upgraded as part of the Neighbourhood Parks Program. We consulted with the community, community groups and organisations, sporting groups and schools. 

    The consultation gathered information about who uses the park, who would like to use the park and what inclusions the community would like to see, within the scope of this project. What we learned helped inform the designs we are presenting to you now, each of which addresses key wants and needs expressed through the consultation.

    • 26% of respondents use Thomas Park daily.
    • 26% of respondents use Thomas Park weekly.
    • 59% of respondents take children to the park aged up to 5 years.
    • 28% of respondents take children to the park aged 5 to 10 years.
    • 5% of respondents take children to the park aged over 10 years.
    • 8% of respondents do not take children to the park.

    The top three favoured upgrade inclusions were:

    1. Add basic bike loop.
    2. Replace play equipment - add flying fox or track glide.
    3.  Add nature play – rocks, balance logs or similar.

    Overall, the survey showed us:

    • 48% of respondents voted to add basic bike loop.
    • 47% of respondents voted to add slackline. 
    • 39% of respondents voted to replace play equipment - add flying fox or track glide. 
    • 39% of respondents voted to add nature play – rocks, balance logs or similar. 
    • 36% of respondents voted for updating and refurbishing furniture and picnic shelters.
    • 34% of respondents voted to replace play equipment and add swings.
    • 27% of respondents voted to replace play equipment and add slides.

    In the options we are presenting, we have tried to accommodate as much of the stated wants for the park as possible, while balancing budget and looking at what is available at other nearby parks.

    Design description
    The upgrade of Thomas Park will include:

    • Replacement of the play space with new and modern equipment including a new accessible play features which will welcome all children;
    • A new bike track for developing riders to learn more advanced riding skills;
    • The existing picnic facilities and shelter will be improved and made fully new wheelchair accessible with more informal group seating; and
    • Accessible parking on Boorea Road which will connect to the picnic facilities and play equipment via an accessible path.

    This upgrade is intended to open the park and play space up to a wider range of visitors who will be able to safely access all the major features. There will be an excellent range of activities for younger children while also creating some social spaces for older children and teens away from the play space. The equipment is designed to create opportunities for a variety of play options:  

    • 'Moving the body' play may include the rock climbing features to develop strength, help develop risk management and are good for younger and older children.
    • 'Kinetic play' includes swings, slides and spring rockers to help develop balance skills.
    • 'Social Play and Imagination Play' will bring kids together to develop social and cooperation skills, and be spontaneous and creative.
    • 'Explorative play' is a hands-on investigation of the world around us.
    • There are also many spaces around the play space where kids can engage in self-directed learning about the environment.

    Council has listened to the community including gathering feedback from the local childcare centres about how the park is used for play and early childhood activities and also local residents who enjoy the beautiful trees and natural features of the park.

    Two options for Thomas Park are presented below.  They both provide a bike loop, swings and climbing options, but respond to community input in different ways.
    Option one provides a playspace with the standard popular style of climbing and imaginative play. It incorporates a few nature-play components. The bike track is integrated through and around the playspace.
    Option two provides a larger and more challenging bike loop separated from the play area. The playspace elements, apart from the swings, are more in the nature play style.

    Please take some time to check out the designs and share your thoughts with us through the survey.

    Park layout showing playground

    insert map


    Playspace Option 1  

     

    Playspace Option 2 

     


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Page last updated: 26 May 2025, 11:03 AM