A newly constructed 78-metre sunken rain garden with native trees, shrubs and plants is bringing the green into City Park in the Penrith CBD.
Spanning the length of City Park along Henry Street, the garden is designed to capture rainfall and water runoff which will help to reduce water waste.
Pedestrian bridges over the garden will allow people to make their way in and out of the park while enjoying a bird’s eye view of the garden below.
The amenities building is also under construction and will feature a green roof, an adult changing facility, ambulant toilet, accessible and unisex toilets with baby change tables, and pergola.
Penrith Mayor Tricia Hitchen said additional planting across the park will complement the garden and green roof to create a welcoming green space for the community.
“City Park will help to create a cooler City Centre while also being the perfect spot to enjoy lunch, a walk, or meeting up with friends,” Cr Hitchen said.
“Workers and recent visitors to the CBD may have noticed all the other work going on at City Park with footpath and kerb works on Station and Henry Streets complete and an upgrade to Allen Place laneway underway.
“The water features and fog fountains are also under construction off-site and are expected to be installed in the coming months.”
Member for Penrith Karen McKeown said it was exciting to see the park coming to life in the Penrith CBD.
“City Park is going to be a unique and vibrant destination that will help stimulate the local economy by attracting more people into the Penrith CBD and encouraging them to venture further into the City Centre,” she said.
The NSW Government is contributing $4 million to the City Park project.
Minister for Planning and Public Spaces Paul Scully said the City Park project will deliver a green oasis in the heart of the Penrith CBD.
“The NSW Government is committed to increasing the tree canopy across the Sydney basin and providing green open spaces and parklands for the community to come together and enjoy,” Scully said.
“As temperatures continue to rise during hotter months, the community needs more spaces for recreation that are cool.
“The NSW Government is finalising a guide for creating cool public open spaces that provide comfort for the community to enjoy during hot weather, like here at City Park.”
City Park is expected to open at the end of 2023.
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