DOG walkers, picnickers, cyclists, joggers and duck fanciers are just some of the stakeholders expected to turn out for a meeting to help plan the future of Tamworth’s riverside parklands tonight.
The meeting, to be held at the Tamworth Community Centre at 6pm, will explore “passive recreation” options for key public spaces in the centre of the city.
Tamworth Regional Council (TRC) is seeking comment from residents as it prepares a green paper on the future development and utilisation of the open space along the riverbanks near the Tamworth CBD.
Under review are the parklands along the river from the velodrome near Paradise Bridge down to No.1 Oval.
The passive recreation land on the other side of the river from Gipps St to Jewry St, is also under scrutiny.
It follows on from the wider open space plan being prepared to help define the future of all public sports and leisure areas across TRC that will soon go on public exhibition.
TRC recreation planner Simon Haire said open space surveys had already shown Tamworth lacked a true regional passive recreation area.
The green paper will look at whether or not the areas and Bicentennial Park can fit the bill.
Options already identified include building a children’s playground, probably around the Hill St/Kable Ave part of the parklands, providing picnic, family and barbecue facilities and upgrading the entire strip to cater for increasing numbers of walkers and cyclists.
Speaking to residents using the park yesterday, The Leader found the options TRC has proposed were not far off the mark.
Sarah Gray and Chris Knight often use the concrete walking track along the levee.
“My only suggestion would be that council supply poop bags for dogs,” Ms Gray said.
“There are a lot of people walking their dogs on the path. I know people are supposed to bring their own (bags) but there are a lot of places now that have them hanging somewhere for dog walkers to use.
“They also have dishes under the taps for dogs to drink from.”
Ms Gray said she often brought her grandchildren down to feed the ducks.
“They just love it and the ducks follow them around to the point where I’ve had to limit them to one piece of bread.”
Ms Gray and Mrs Knight said they would like to see gas barbecues in the park to encourage more people to picnic there.
“I think they (council) would be surprised at all the people that would come out,” Ms Gray said.
The ladies also suggested the Peel St markets be moved into the park so that they could be more spread out.
“It would be lovely down here in the sun and then people could buy something to eat and sit on the grass,” Ms Gray said.
Enjoying the sun yesterday Amy Boyce said she would like to see a large playground and shade awnings.
“I love the walking trails but it would be good to see some barbecues and picnic facilities,” she said.
Down by the ponds four-year-old Lucy Petrie loves coming to the park, according to her grandmother, Sally Reading.
“We come here quite often and Lucy loves feeding the ducks,” she said.
“It’s beautiful here in the sun but it would be nice if there was a playground for the kids – one of those really big ones with a fence around it and shade sails.
“We have nothing like it in Tamworth at the moment.”
People wishing to have their say regarding the parklands are urged to attend tonight’s meeting.
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