Places to Play: Ashdown Reserve
Consultation has concluded
Council is upgrading Ashdown Reserve at Ashdown Drive in alignment with the Places to Play Plan, a comprehensive strategy guiding the development, management, and sustainability of public spaces across the region. This plan, designed to ensure high-quality recreational opportunities and equitable distribution of facilities, addresses evolving community needs in the Port Macquarie-Hastings area. The Recreation and Open Space Action Plan further supports these efforts by strategically managing resources to deliver improved sport and recreation facilities in the near to medium term.
The Ashdown Reserve Play Space is proposed to be relocated to a position that has a higher level of passive surveillance and more suitably meets place management design principles. The new position also meets the Everyone Can Play Guidelines:
- Can I get there?
- Can I play?
- Can I stay?
You can view the concept plan and the reserve overview which highlights the new location, to the right under the documents tab or below if you are viewing on a mobile device.
Local Level Play Spaces
Ashdown Reserve is classified as a local level play space. Local level play spaces make up 75 percent of the play space network in the Port Macquarie-Hastings region and generally have 0.25-1ha of usable land. They provide basic level play equipment for the local community and visitors tend to stay for approximately 30-60 minutes. Ideally these play spaces will be located within a 1km walk of all residential areas. What local level play spaces do not include however is public toilets, drinking fountain, car parking, security lighting, and artificial shade.
What to Expect
You can look forward to seeing new, exciting play equipment that encourages physical activity, creativity, and inclusivity. We're committed to selecting equipment that caters to a wide range of ages and abilities, ensuring that every child in our community can find something to enjoy.
Benefits for Everyone
Upgrading play spaces isn't just about replacing old equipment it's about creating vibrant community hubs where families can come together, children can make new friends, and everyone can enjoy the outdoors. These spaces will promote health, happiness, and a sense of belonging for all who use them.
How to get involved
Your input is invaluable in shaping the design and features of this upgraded play space.
You can provide feedback by:
- Completing the survey
- Emailing council@pmhc.nsw.gov.au
- Posting to:
CEO Port Macquarie-Hastings
Council PO Box 84
Port Macquarie NSW 2444
All submissions must be received by 5:00pm Monday 12 August 2024.
Next Steps
Feedback will be reviewed at the closure of consultation and updates or changes to the proposed plan will be communicated back to the community. As we move forward with this project, we'll keep you updated on timelines and any temporary closures that might be necessary during construction. Thank you for being a part of this exciting journey to update our play spaces. We can't wait to unveil the new and improved areas.