City Park
- Details
- Written by Teela Griffin Penrith City Council (02) 4732 7777 (02) 4732 7958 council@penrithcity.nsw.gov.au https://www.penrithcity.nsw.gov.au 601 High St Penrith NSW 2750 Australia
Penrith City Council is transforming the Penrith City Centre with the delivery of a new $12 million City Park. At approximately 7,000sqm, City Park will be a significant green space in a prime location on the corner of Henry Street and Station Streets, Penrith.
Situated opposite Penrith Westfield and a short distance from Penrith Train Station, City Park is set to create a welcoming, cool, walkable environment which invites people to explore the City Centre and discover Penrith’s great local cafes, shops and businesses.
City Park will create a natural retreat and provide space for everyone to meet, retreat, eat, be active and connect together. These aspects are expected to strengthen the City’s appeal as a destination for residents, workers, and visitors and stimulate the day and night time economy.
Key features of the new City Park include themed gardens, water features, natural shade, public artwork and a large central lawn for people to relax, play, meet friends, be entertained and active.
Construction of City Park starts in early 2022 and will be open in early 2023.
City Park is proudly funded by Penrith City Council in association with the NSW Government as part of the NSW Public Spaces Legacy Program.
Current Status
Penrith City Council is getting ready to transform the CBD and deliver a vibrant green space for the community to use and enjoy, with the Development Application for the Demolition and Remediation of the City Park site receiving approval from Council in May.
During the demolition and remediation phase of this project we’ll be working hard to minimise disruption by communicating any changes happening as soon as possible. Some of the current and upcoming changes around the City Park site include:
- Access to Allen Place car park will close from Monday 6 December 2021. During this time the car park will remain open with access to the car park via Gaymark Lane or Lawson Street.
- A small section of Allen Place car park will close from early January 2022. The remaining car spaces in Allen Place car park are still available for one and two-hour parking.
- A new temporary car park, funded by Penrith City Council, is being built next to Judges Place car park on Woodriff Street to offset the loss of parking in Allen Place.
The Development Application for the construction and embellishment of City Park ((DA21/0047)) was approved in October. Construction of City Park will start in early 2022.
Demolition and Remediation
Demolition and remediation work on the City Park site is due to start in October.
During the demolition and remediation phase of this project we’ll be working hard to minimise disruption by communicating any changes happening as soon as possible.
Some of the current and upcoming changes around the site include:
- Temporary fencing installed to separate work site from traffic and pedestrians.
- Entry into Allen Place car park from Station Street closes in October
- A small section of Allen Place car park closes in October while the rest of Allen Place car park remains open for one and two-hour parking.
- A new temporary car park is being built on Woodriff Street to provide 159 parking spaces including 4 accessible parking spaces.
Alternative parking options in the city centre can be found by downloading the ParkPenrith App and using the interactive parking map at penrith.city/parking.
Parking Information
A small section of Allen Place car park is being lost in the construction of City Park, however the remaining car spaces will still be available for one and two-hour parking. These parking spaces can be accessed by Henry Street and Edwards Place.
A new temporary car park next to Judges Place car park on Woodriff Street is being built to offset the loss of parking at Allen Place and provide 159 parking spaces including 4 accessible car spaces.
Other parking options in the city centre can be found by downloading the ParkPenrith App and using the interactive parking map at penrith.city/parking.
City Park Hoarding
Temporary wooden fencing panels, also known as hoarding, will be installed around the City Park site in late October. Council has commissioned an original artwork by a local Penrith artist Christine Huynh to feature on the hoarding. The artwork is inspired by the native birds and flowers in Penrith. “I hope these birds and flowers will be frequent visitors of our beautiful new City Park,” Christine said.
This hoarding is the first of its kind for Penrith’s City Centre and follows the adoption of Council’s Hoarding Policy in early 2020. The Hoarding Policy is in place to ensure temporary structures around construction sites are safe, have limited impacts on people using the city centre and are visually appealing to improve amenity and experience for our community.
FAQs
Why is Council building a City Park?
The creation of a City Park in the heart of Penrith was identified as a key component in shaping our City for the future back in 2006 and Penrith City Council has investigated opportunities for the site while the project was awaiting funding. City Park was formally endorsed as part of the Penrith Progression: A Plan for Action vision and since then Council has been consulting with the community on this project. It’s their shared ideas, thoughts and input that are shaping the design and delivery of this new open space in Penrith.
Where will City Park be located?
City Park will be located on the corner of Henry and Station streets in the heart of the Penrith City Centre, which will reinforce Penrith’s role as a major Western Sydney centre for business, employment and urban living.
Will the park be safe for the community to use and enjoy?
Council’s aim is for everyone to be and feel safe no matter where they are or what they’re doing across our City and this includes in the new City Park. Safety and security is being carefully considered and planned throughout the design stage to ensure that City Park is safe and enjoyable for all to use during the day and night. Council also aims to develop an Activation Plan for City Park to ensure a variety of uses in a vibrant, safe and beautiful space.
Will City Park have an all-abilities playground?
While City Park won’t have a playground, there will be several passive play and interactive elements for people all ages and abilities to enjoy. This includes several water features, sensory gardens and natural landscape features.
What are some of the benefits of City Park?
Leading cities around the world have large communal green spaces that provide a respite and reprieve from their surroundings. Think Hyde Park in the Sydney CBD and Central Park in New York. Smaller parks are also just as important and are known to deliver big benefits in small spaces.
In addition to adding beautiful, green open spaces into a city centre, small parks can encourage a healthy lifestyle, reduce heat by offering natural shade, create recreational opportunities, and attract people into the city to stimulate the local economy.
Where is City Park located exactly?
City will be located on the corner of Henry and Station streets in the heart of the Penrith City Centre. At approximately 7,000sqm, City Park will be a significant open space offering something for everybody. The City Park site is approximately 1/3 of the block, finishing at the Allen Park car park to the south and Gaymark Lane in the east.
What is happening to Allen Place car park?
A small section of Allen Place car park is being lost in the construction of City Park, however the remaining car spaces will still be available for one and two-hour parking.
A new temporary car park next to Judges Place car park on Woodriff Street is being built to offset the loss of parking at Allen Place and provide 159 all-day parking spaces and 4 accessible car spaces.
Other parking options in the city centre can be found by downloading the ParkPenrith App and using the interactive parking map at penrith.city/parking.
Where can people park their car to visit City Park?
Anyone driving into the City Centre is encouraged to download Council’s ParkPenrith app from the app store or play store. This free app uses and displays data from in-ground sensors and makes finding a parking spot much easier. For details on car park locations and time restrictions download the Penrith City Centre Parking Map: https://www.penrithcity.nsw.gov.au/services/other-services/parking/penrith-city-centre-parking-map
Will buildings be demolished to build City Park?
Several buildings on the site (corner of Station Street and Henry Street) will need to be demolished to create City Park. The buildings located on the site are owned by Penrith City Council. Council has been working with tenants for a number of years on the prospect of City Park and confirmed the timeline for development last September.
What will the park look like?
The final design was delivered in late 2020 and incorporates the ideas and input provided by the community during consultation. Key features include a variety of large shady trees, a sensory garden, water features and natural landscaping. There’s also plenty of space for everyone to meet, retreat, eat, be active and connect with these aspects set to stimulate the day and night time economy by attracting locals, visitors and investors.
Parking information
A small section of Allen Place car park is being lost in the construction of City Park, however the remaining car spaces will still be available for one and two-hour parking. This small section of the car park will close from early October 2021.
A new temporary car park next to Judges Place car park on Woodriff Street is being built to offset the loss of parking at Allen Place and provide 159 parking spaces including 4 accessible car spaces. This car park, funded by Penrith City Council, will start construction in late September and is scheduled to open in October 2021.
Other parking options in the city centre can be found by downloading the ParkPenrith App and using the interactive parking map at penrith.city/parking.
Late-2021 Dismantling of buildings
