Voting now open for micro park to help rejuvenate Garema Place

The community can now vote for a new pop-up recreational space that may include an amphitheatre or grassed platforms to help reinvigorate Garema Place, with a jury shortlisting six designs after a public competition.

Last month the ACT Government launched the competition calling for the public to submit proposals for a transportable micro-park, defined as a compact, human-scale, intimate place that supports multiple activities such as reading, eating, sitting and socialising.

The six shortlisted design ideas are:

• The Grounds of Garema, which includes a micro amphitheatre, community piano, picnic tables and umbrellas;
• Hakanasa – a grove of sculptural wattle trees as a Canberra celebration of spring in the Japanese tradition (Hanami);
• Springtime Dreamtime – brightly illuminated blue trees, fun flower chairs that rotate and tilt, strings of lights strung between trees and brightly painted pavers;
• Green Square – based on modularised planting beds set at varying levels and incorporating seating options for individual and small group use;
• Angles – featuring elevated grass platforms and a timber ‘wave’ deck; and
• Round – featuring grassed platforms and a small performance space.

A public vote is now open until 6 September to select one of the shortlisted designs.

Minister for Transport and City Services Meegan Fitzharris said 14 submissions were received from individuals, families and local landscape designers.

“The jury had a tough decision to make, but they have shortlisted the submissions received to six and it is now up to you to decide the winner,” Ms Fitzharris said.

She said the most popular design would be developed and constructed by a landscape architect, in consultation with the person or group who made the submission.

Construction of the micro park was expected to commence in November, in time for summer and the school holidays.

Transport Canberra and City Services would install the winning design in Garema Place for two months and it then may be moved to other locations in the city.

The designs can be viewed along with descriptions at www.yoursay.act.gov.au where people can vote online, or a hard copy entry form can be obtained at Civic Library. TCCS staff will be in Garema Place on Friday 1 September between 2.30pm and 4.30pm to collect community votes.

What do you think of the selected designs? Will they make Garema Place a more attractive place? What else needs to happen there?