About the Project
Council is proposing to construct a pocket park including hard and soft landscaping and carpark in an area of the Public Domain in Bridge Street, Muswellbrook.
By turning ‘spaces’ into ‘places’ Council aims to take a step towards providing the Community with access to interesting, equitable and attractive settings to meet various needs and facilitate more interaction in the urban life. The pocket park is located in the town centre.
It is Council’s vision that the public space referred to as a Pocket Park will contribute to the physical, social, “heart” of the community. It will be designed as a place of community identity, value, pride and social interaction. Through the creation of an attractive, safe and engaging public space with a range of experiences for gathering, relaxation and passive recreation.
The Pocket Park will play an important role in the formation of a public space network through the Muswellbrook Town Centre. The smaller park will allow for “pauses” in a landscaped setting along the route between major and larger open spaces within the town. The Pocket Park will be particularly important as it is within an area where commercial and education activities are taking place. Being in a highly visible and accessible location it will allow workers, community members partaking in business or shopping, or students from the Hunter Innvoation Precint, to take a lunch or coffee break while enjoying a contemplative environment with pedestrians strolling by. It will provide a meeting place to facilitate connection and belonging, seating to relax, areas to eat, and a small play area and provision of a casual game area for interaction.
Research has suggested that smaller breaks during the work schedule increases productivity and health, especially mental health, and connection with others has positive benefits for wellbeing. Due to its small scale, the space will be highly visible from the main street (New England Hwy), and will connect to the public space network and include access to sunlight, important view corridors, connection to the network of public spaces, and protection from wind, traffic and noise.
Muswellbrook Shire Council supports the NSW Public Spaces Charter. The charter identifies 10 principles for quality public space, to support all those who advocate on behalf of, provide advice on, make decisions about, or plan, design, manage and activate public spaces in NSW.
Pocket Park Concept Design
Project updates
TopCouncil contractors will be removing hazardous materials from disused buildings in the town centre, numbers 88 to 108 Bridge St, in preparation for demolition and future works.
The task will involve the careful and controlled removal of bonded asbestos and other hazardous materials from the premises while ensuring any potential risks are managed and addressed. All operations will strictly adhere to Health and Safety and Environmental obligations.
Council staff are working with Terras Landscape to progress the concept design for the new Pocket Park and heritage facade proposed on Bridge Street to detailed design.
At this stage of design, the space will include fenced-in children’s play equipment, water play area with seating, a large grassed area with mature trees to provide shade, toilet and change room facilities, and a basketball court.
The heritage façade will include arch themes from the current standing buildings to tie in with the church arches that will be adjacent and in view of the new park area.
Council has approved for demolition to proceed of the key buildings in the town centre that will make way for the Pocket Park. Hoarding has gone up ready for demolition to progress.
