Park plans: The three adults among (from left) Renny and Sam Bouchier, Nat Hanna, Kathryn Portelli and Hamish Whyte are working with designers to create a plan for the Kyneton Community Park. Picture: Ari Hatzis
THE Kyneton Community Park will be a place for people to picnic, gather and celebrate.
Last week, park group members announced that Melbourne company Laidlaw and Laidlaw Design had been appointed to pen this vision onto paper.
The park will be built in the lower arboretum of the Kyneton Botanic Gardens.
"We really liked the way Laidlaw and Laidlaw showed sensitivity to the historic site while incorporating elements that will ensure the Kyneton Community Park is a well-used space," community park vice-president Sam Bouchier said.
The park will be built close to the river and near the historic piggery shed.
"The design will include a playground, fitness circuit, barbecues and sheltered picnic areas, and we'd love to see a giant slide cut into the hill," Ms Bouchier said.
"There really will be something for everyone.
"The aim is to create a space that people will love. We want to use local and recycled materials and find ways to bring the fascinating history of Kyneton to life."
Laidlaw and Laidlaw Design created the master plan for the Kyneton Botanic Gardens.
It also designed the Ian Potter Foundation Children's Garden at the Royal Botanic Gardens in Melbourne.
The plans for the park are to be completed by October and released during the town's community fair in November. Ms Bouchier said planning for the park started about five years ago.
"We're thrilled this is starting, absolutely thrilled. We've gone and done a lot of community consultation on this, a whole lot of research and analysed the needs of the community.
"We want to plan and deliver a park that's truly for everyone. This park will give Kyneton a heart. There's nowhere at the moment where people of all generations can gather and explore and celebrate."
Ms Bouchier said about $500,000 needed to be raised to develop the park.
"I hope at our launch, our community will gather - politicians, state and federal governments and the council - so we can tell them the benefits of this, raise the money and start work on it.
"I would hope by next year we could start building the park. But we've still got a lot more work to do."