Draft strategy signals new review of pocket park future
Central Coast Council staff seem likely to have another attempt to get rid of pocket parks of the Peninsula.
The review would be the fourth in 10 years.
Previous attempts have stretched back 20 years.
The Council's draft Open Space Strategy, soon to be on exhibition for public comment, recommends "further-detailed investigation ... as to retention, improvement or alternative use" of parks less than 1000 square metres in size.
They would be "investigated and a future use determined" as part of the "Place Plan project" for the Peninsula.
It appears to be the only recommendation in the draft strategy for specific immediate action.
The draft strategy states: "Size is a critical qualitative criterion in considering whether a site is fit-for-purpose and has the capacity to accommodate use.
"Very small parks (often called 'pocket parks') have limited ability to accommodate recreation use and are inefficient to maintain.
"However some small parcels, especially those associated with linear open space can be useful as active transport linkages or use nodes along waterway corridors.
"They can also complement other public space such as squares or plazas.
"Within the Central Coast, 22 parks are smaller than 1000 square metres and have been identified as non-conforming to a minimum functional area assessment.
"As part of Council's upcoming District Place Plan project, which will be completed for each Social Planning District, the long-term value of these parcels will be investigated and a future use determined.
"It may be that some of these sites could be improved or expanded to help address deficits where they are located in an area of low supply."
However, the strategy claims the Peninsula has a 10 hectare surplus of "land for recreation park".
The draft strategy states that, for "local recreation parks", the "preferred minimum size" would be 0.5-1.0 hectares.
The shape would be rectangular with no boundary less than 20 metres in length.
Three quarters of the site would have to be "usable, free of hazards".
"For parks proposed to be less than 0.5 hectares, an absolute minimum usable area of 3000 square metres would be required."
This "main use area" should free of regular flooding (i.e. above 10 per cent annual exceedance probably) with at least 10 per cent of total area above two percent.
"No more than 10 per cent of the site should be impacted by constructed drains or stormwater treatment mechanisms.
"Detention and retention basins are generally not suitable for parkland.
"Multiple use open space solutions may be considered in some circumstances (eg infill development) providing all other performance criteria concerning safe and functional space can be met."
The strategy suggests one local park for every 1500 persons.
SOURCE:
Central Coast Council agenda item 2.3, 23 Jul 2024