7 November 2012

Crace recreation park opening

| johnboy
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recreation park

The Crace developers are letting us all know the Crace recreation park is officially opening on Saturday:

Crace’s $3.6 million recreation park spanning 4.5 hectares is a facility unlike anything Canberra has ever seen and has been hailed as a model for future parks by the ACT Government.

Designed to appeal to a broad range of users, the multi-purpose sport and recreation facility provides irrigated open spaces, formal sports facilities as well as recreation activities including a playground, BBQ amenities and an extensive path system for general recreation.

“Our vision was to provide a park that would provide multiple opportunities for the new residents of Crace, of all ages, shapes and sizes, to get outside and get active and use the park,” says CIC NSW/ACT landscape manager Matthew Frawley.

“It shows that a park can be so much more than just sport or trees or grass, it can be all of these things when well designed.”

The park’s main features include a multi-use full sized sports court with lighting, which can accommodate basketball, netball and soccer.

A half court with a tennis hitting wall will accommodate both tennis and netball and there’s a single cricket net plus a state-of-the-art outdoor gym.

There are two kickabout spaces spanning 8000m2 one to accommodate younger users and families, and the other suitable for older users and more physical games.

A wetland system and stormwater harvesting pond irrigates more than two hectares of the recreation park and has been designed to ensure that the water source is over 90 per cent secure.

Also we’re told there will be a celebrity cricket match involving Michael Bevan and Dean Jones. Proceedings start at 10.30am.

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crackerpants10:47 am 08 Nov 12

threepaws said :

Evil_Kitten said :

Is it anti-dog?

I assume it is anti-dog because dogs are not permitted within 10 metres of children’s play equipment or public BBQs. Whether this rule is actually enforced or not, who knows?

According to TAMS you can actually be fined for having dogs within the grounds of day care centres, pre-schools and primary schools; or any oval when a sporting event or training is taking place. Again, is this enforced? Who knows?

http://www.tams.act.gov.au/play/pcl/get_out_there/where_to_go/wherecanitakemydog

There is a useful map provided by TAMS that shows the official off-lead dog areas in Canberra apart from designated dog parks. Pretty much consists of major easements and playing fields all over town.

I am a dog lover and have a couple of dogs myself, but I sympathise with people who don’t like them and prefer that random dogs weren’t running loose in a play area. I would prefer random dogs weren’t running loose in a kids play area myself! Kid squeals, dog bites kid, kid and dog both suffer consequences… not worth it really.

In short, no these rules are not enforced – I’ve been told by DAS that with 4 rangers and over 100,000 dogs, it’s simply not possible. From the description of this particular park though, it sounds like there are a few spare hectares beyond the actual play equipment in which to walk a dog.

For what it’s worth, I think the 10m rule is pretty silly anyway. A dog can close the gap from 50 or 100m to being within the 10m “zone” awfully quickly, so if we get to the playground and find there are dogs there, or dogs arrive after us, commonsense prevails and we leave immediately. It is, of course, a given that in my suburb, dogs are unleashed, and the presence of an owner is an optional extra. Because those rules aren’t enforced either. Arbitrary distances are just that, and compliance with keeping dogs on leads is so variable, that I thinks parks should either allow dogs off lead, or not allow dogs at all.

It’s not really a matter of liking dogs or otherwise, but one of not liking the situation – that being strange dogs and strange children in close proximity. I don’t bother trying to make a point with irresponsible dog owners (assuming there is one present) – I just take the safe option and leave.

Pork Hunt said :

Deref said :

“Recreation park” – is that anything like a playground?

I think so but you have to self-excercise…

How totally last century!

Madam Cholet8:16 am 08 Nov 12

threepaws said :

Evil_Kitten said :

I am a dog lover and have a couple of dogs myself, but I sympathise with people who don’t like them

I think people who don’t like dogs are not to be trusted.

On another note about the actual play equipment, they have a very similar park way down south in Bonython. I’ve taken my son there a few times and have found that when all is said and done, there’s not that much to keep him interested. And that’s in addition to there being no shade – which means that you can’t stay that long.

Oh and I meant on a leash, if they were allowed, not running loose.

Yeah I knew about that rule but it seems a shame to walk to the park and not take your dog, it used to be assumed, and just what you “did” at the park. I do realise times have changed.

Not being sure what this park looks like, I thought it might not ALL be children’s equipment and BBQs and you could bring your dog while staying out of their 10 metre “protective zone”.

Evil_Kitten said :

Is it anti-dog?

I assume it is anti-dog because dogs are not permitted within 10 metres of children’s play equipment or public BBQs. Whether this rule is actually enforced or not, who knows?

According to TAMS you can actually be fined for having dogs within the grounds of day care centres, pre-schools and primary schools; or any oval when a sporting event or training is taking place. Again, is this enforced? Who knows?

http://www.tams.act.gov.au/play/pcl/get_out_there/where_to_go/wherecanitakemydog

There is a useful map provided by TAMS that shows the official off-lead dog areas in Canberra apart from designated dog parks. Pretty much consists of major easements and playing fields all over town.

I am a dog lover and have a couple of dogs myself, but I sympathise with people who don’t like them and prefer that random dogs weren’t running loose in a play area. I would prefer random dogs weren’t running loose in a kids play area myself! Kid squeals, dog bites kid, kid and dog both suffer consequences… not worth it really.

Deref said :

“Recreation park” – is that anything like a playground?

I think so but you have to self-excercise…

In live on that street and the play equipment, basketball courts and outdoor gym have been getting a lot of use even before the temp fencing was removed..I am hoping that it doesn’t get destroyed by the knuckle-draggers within the first year..

Is there a swing? Swings were my favourite. I don’t see one . . .

Is it anti-dog?

“Recreation park” – is that anything like a playground?

Is there going to be any shade cloth while, presumably, they wait for surrounding trees to mature .. really, an open playground in the middle of a concrete complex .. it’s going to be blistering as soon as the heat comes in.

Cool bananas, I’ll take the young tacker there on the weekend. He’ll love it.

Wow, even the recreational parks are living above their means in Crace.

It’s a shame they didn’t splurge on sun shades and shelters too….

If anyone uses the outdoor gym could they post about what it actually includes? I still don’t understand this.

$3.6 million dollars. No wonder they are talking it up (a single cricket net….just wow).

Gone are the days of putting up some goal posts (League or AFL) and let the kiddies bring their own footy.

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