St Ives Village Green Upgrade

By ALEC SMART

St Ives Village Green and sporting facilities are in the midst of a redevelopment. So far, the pedestrian crossing in Village Green Parade has been relocated for better access, and the public toilets upgraded.

The latest stage of improvements to the recreation precinct, primarily the skate park and children’s play area, has commenced and is expected to be completed by mid 2022.

Consisting of 9.2 hectares of designated ‘community land’, St Ives Village Green is divided into 7 precincts, all conveniently adjacent to the St Ives Village Shopping Centre.

These include:

Youth (skate park, children’s playground, youth centre, community hall).

St Ives Bowling Club (three greens, clubhouse and carpark).

William Cowan Oval (upper level softball diamonds and amenities block).

Lower Village Green (large grass area and cricket pitch).

Forested Zone (Sydney Turpentine Ironbark Forest in the north-east).

Hard Courts (four floodlit dual-purpose tennis/netball courts).

The original Village Green was opened in stages throughout the 1950s (the first annual Village Fair was held in November 1951), and is being managed for the future in accordance with an adopted Plan of Management.

In June 2011 Ku-Ring-Gai Council adopted a Plan of Management that merged several environmental and development strategies (St Ives Village Green Landscape Masterplan, Ku-ring-gai Local Environmental Plan, Ku-ring-gai Town Centres Public Domain Plan, and Ku- ring-gai Development Control Plan), all undertaken with community consultation. This was undertaken to provide a new vision for the Village Green and town centre area.

According to the Plan of Management, “The redevelopment of the St Ives precinct will see a dramatic change in the intensity of use of the St Ives Village Green, and the integration of the park with adjacent land uses.”

Ku-Ring-Gai Council’s website lists key features of the redevelopment project:

• A contemporary and challenging skate plaza and bowl areas for a range of skill levels. An inclusive children’s play area suitable for children of all ages and abilities.

• An adaptable performance space with a viewing lawn and stage for community events. Shaded areas and sunny terraces overlooking play and skate areas.

• Picnic facilities for children’s parties and family gatherings.

• Wide new pathways with accessible links to different areas of the precinct Coloured pavements for visual interest, reduced glare and wayfinding.

• New seating, shelters, bins and bubblers

• Lighting and possible CCTV.

• Retention of existing shade trees where possible.

• New shade tree planting and landscaping.

For complete details of the St Ives Village Green upgrade, visit:

www.krg.nsw.gov.au/Planning-and-development/Projects-and-current-works/St-Ives/St-Ives-Village-Green