After months of construction, City Walk has been given an injection of new life with the addition of grass areas and flowers between Garema Place and Ainslie Place.
More than 3000 plants and 560 square meters of lawn were installed along the pedestrian street to provide Canberrans with another open space to stop and take time out during the day.
The upgrades also include improved lighting and more seating options.
“It’s an exciting project for us as we know how much Canberrans engage with, and enjoy, this iconic space,” said project manager Nathan Spencer.
The grass area is not accessible to Canberrans yet and will remain fenced off for another few weeks while the lawn grows, but the rest of the street has opened in time for the warmer weather hitting the city during the next week.
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The revitalisation of City Walk is also expected to have a positive impact on businesses through an increase in foot traffic and directing pedestrians closer to shopfronts as COVID-19 restrictions continue to ease in the ACT.
The upgrades came at a cost of $1.6 million.
It forms part of the ACT Government’s Urban Forest Strategy which aims to increase the tree canopy cover across Canberra to 30 per cent, and plant more than 450,000 trees.
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The canopy will also help reduce urban heat, and cool Canberra’s city, as outlined in the ACT Government’s 2019 climate change strategy.
First Nations company Rork Projects was commissioned to lead design and construction.
For more information on this project and to find out about events and activities planned for the Canberra city centre, visit here.