The future for Melbourne's new parks is small and strategic
Seafarers Park, next to the historic Mission to Seafarers building on the edge of the Yarra River, is Melbourne's first new riverside park in 20 years.
The 3500-square-metre park was opened by Lord Mayor Nick Reece on Thursday as part of the $600 million redevelopment of the precinct, which includes the 227-room 1 Hotel and luxury apartments by developer Riverlee.
Reece said the park – which includes grassed areas, trees, bench seating and a small playground with a climbing frame and trampoline – was the first new major park along the Yarra since Birrarung Marr was opened in 2002 and would be 'transformative' for the city.
Riverlee bought the Goods Shed site on the north bank of the river from the state government in 2015 and part of its tender was to provide a refurbished park at Seafarers which would then be handed back to the City of Melbourne and state government.
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'We committed to refurbishing the wharf that we see in front of us, as well as the delivery of a new public park,' co-owner David Lee said. 'We designed it and delivered it, but ultimately, it's a true collaboration between the state government, Riverlee, and council, who will effectively manage it from today onwards.'
In his first budget as lord mayor last month, Reece pulled funding from Greenline, the ambitious $316 million linear park proposed for the north bank of the Yarra River. Despite this, Reece said the completion of Seafarers Park showed the potential for Greenline.
'We are a river city and today we're delivering a major new river park, which is part of the Greenline project, which is going to transform the north bank of our river,' he said. 'At the election last year, my biggest election commitment was to make Melbourne a garden city with a major investment in new parks and gardens, and today we're seeing the first new park to be opened.'
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