Image: Image: Supplied (City of Parramatta Council)
What was once an underused space beneath Sydney’s M4 Motorway has now been reimagined as Junction Street Plaza, a vibrant $1.4 million urban park packed with activities like basketball, table tennis, street skating, and parkour.
Junction Street Plaza officially opened on Thursday as part of a pilot program to transform 1000 square metres of overlooked space into a multi-purpose park designed to encourage young people to stay active and healthy.
City of Parramatta Lord Mayor Cr Martin Zaiter described the innovative park as providing the perfect space for everyone to come together and enjoy recreational activities outdoors.
“I’m proud to say that Junction Street Plaza is up there with some of the best urban parks around the world, providing a unique activity zone for teens and young adults,” Cr Zaiter said in a statement.
“Parramatta is a growing global City where the young people of today and tomorrow can access a range of public spaces that support their growth and hobbies,” Cr Zaiter said.
Cr Zaiter expressed the new park was designed with young people in mind, but it could be enjoyed by everyone.
“Whether you like to play basketball, skate, do tricks, parkour, dance or relax – this creative new park is the place to do it,” Cr Zaiter said.
The City of Parramatta Lord Mayor also highlighted how this “unique open space” adds value to the existing parks and sportsgrounds, especially at a time when more people than ever are living in apartments and may not have access to outdoor areas.
About Junction Street Plaza
Junction Street Plaza is a $1.4 million project created and funded in conjunction with the NSW Government through its 2021/22 Places to Play Program which is all about encouraging people of all ages and abilities to be active and adventurous and have greater access to nature and the outdoors.
Minister for Planning and Public Spaces Paul Scully said the new multi-purpose urban park will quickly become a popular playspace for Granville’s fast-growing community and surrounding neighbourhoods.
“This exciting project has breathed new life into a previously underutilised area beneath the M4 Motorway to transform it into an impressive new recreational space,” Minister Scully said.
Minister Scully stated that the $1.4 million dollar playground would be a “hub” for the community as the city’s population grows.
“To date, the Places to Play program has provided over $16 million to projects across NSW for well-designed and well-planned open space to create more liveable places where people can enjoy the outdoors,” Minister Scully said.
City Hub Speaks to Cr Martin Zaiter
City Hub spoke to City of Parramatta Lord Mayor Cr Martin Zaiter about the launch of Junction Street Plaza.
When asked what was the inspiration behind building a park under the M4 motorway Cr Zaiter replied, “With land at a premium for new facilities, we’re always looking for innovative ways to make the most of our urban environments and Junction Street Plaza is the perfect example of this.”
“Council saw this empty piece of land underneath the M4 Motorway as an ideal opportunity to do something unique for our community,” Cr Zaiter told City Hub.
Also, Cr Zaiter noted the current lack of spaces “specifically designed for teenagers”, and in consultation with the community, “we’ve designed and delivered this exceptional park that caters to their needs.”
When asked about how this park reflects the future of urban spaces, Cr Zaiter responded, “Junction Street Plaza is a great place for teenagers and young adults to get away from their screens and into the environment with their friends and their urban surrounds, however, with low-impact sports such as table tennis, social areas, and a variety of seating, everyone is welcome.”
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