The following residents of the ACT draw to the attention of the Assembly that:
Braddon Park, a pocket park on Lowanna Street, has been neglected for many years and does not have facilities to encourage community use.
The Friends of Braddon Parks is a group of 100+ local residents that have noticed that the park is underutilised and infrastructure is inadequate. The usage of the park increased during the recent ACT lockdown period which highlighted the inadequacy of the facilities.
We believe that high density living requires adequate community facilities to make city living a lifestyle choice. There are currently no playgrounds in Braddon other than the one in Braddon Park which is in very poor condition.
We are calling on the Government to provide funding for a community-led upgrade of Braddon Park.
Your petitioners, therefore, request the Assembly to call upon the Government to provide funding for a community-led upgrade of Braddon Park.
The following issues urgently need to be addressed in Braddon Park:
- Accessibility for the disabled with mobility issues;
- Adequate seating and adequate lighting;
- Outdoor fitness equipment;
- Play opportunities for children;
- Support of biodiversity for local wildlife.
In a recent survey 100% of respondents agreed that Braddon Park is in poor condition. The top 5 priorities of the community are:
1. upgrade playground to be more engaging and inclusive, including considerations for disabled people. (61%)
2. Install better lighting. (55%)
3. Improve safety and accessibility of footpaths. (55%)
4. Provide more seating options, such as picnic tables. (52%)
5. Increase biodiversity, such as micro-forest. (49%)