News & Discussion: Squares and Parklands

[abc]

This is what all our parklands will look like eventually. The anti-colonialists prefer the unkept Australian scrub look to the manicured European garden look.

Native plants that are drought tolerant are far better than introduced species from another part of the world with a different climate.

we've never run out of water because of the vegetation in our parks

we have 100's of thousands of square kilometres of outback. Its not a novelty to have it in our cities. We should strive for civilisation and beauty.

[Algernon]

As someone who has lived in Europe for quite some time, I appreciate the beauty of Australian flora a lot more. Don't underestimate the aesthetic role of bio diversity. Maybe a London plain looks individually nice, but it gets a bit grating when it's the only sodding tree you see all week.

[abc]

As someone who has lived in Europe for quite some time, I appreciate the beauty of Australian flora a lot more. Don't underestimate the aesthetic role of bio diversity. Maybe a London plain looks individually nice, but it gets a bit grating when it's the only sodding tree you see all week.

"bio diversity"

you hit all the 'progressive' talking points don't you

[Algernon]

Yes clearly the trees and reed bed on a wetland in the parklands is a left-right issue. Thanks for shining a light on it. Obviously the thing we want is a centrist reed bed. Point straight up and none of your Che shit.

Btw, I'm not going to pretend this wetland has no right leanings. Its whole business case was flood mitigation to protect the bottom line of Big Insurance. Mf in wall st and Greenfell st keeping the little guys down when we're all struggling to pay our pokies bills amirite

[timtam20292]

Idiotic and ill informed comment by abc.

[Algernon]

This does look great. If up kept I think it will be gorgeous. It will be great if the rest of the parklands got this treatment and connected the inner burbs to the cities to switch these types of walkways. They be much more inviting.

Honestly, this is a project I can't wait to check out the next time I'm back home in Adelaide.

The upkeep of the parklands has always been a bit of a shit show and it primarily is about water, isn't it? I grew up in the western suburbs and we had the dud brown parklands and the North and East were the green ones, while South was a coin toss sometimes dead sometimes not.

This project IMO is absolutely fantastic because it has a good synergy between practical benefits and aesthetics as well. As I said earlier, I understand that the primary purpose behind this was flood mitigation and to create an effective spillway for the creeks in the area. It also just happens to create something beautiful that can invite people into the park. On that note, I think though that maybe a few of the football fields there are now gone because of this? I remember as a kid having to jump the rail of Victoria Park to play on those pitches on Saturday mornings So, maybe more dog walkers at the expense of high school kids in football studs I suppose.

I get a bit dreamy thinking about what potential there is to repeat this project throughout the parklands. Ultimately I thought it would be amazing to reroute the torrens around the entire city and rejoin at the NW corner, however I think the West Terrace cementary makes that impossible. I also never gave much consideration to the elevations and whether this would be feasible anyway. But the overall idea would be to allow for irrigation of the entire parklands, provide for reed beds to clean the water (to clean up the torrens inlet and the pat), and get a beautiful updgrade of the parklands as well.

One can dream I suppose.

[Nort]

As someone who has lived in Europe for quite some time, I appreciate the beauty of Australian flora a lot more. Don't underestimate the aesthetic role of bio diversity. Maybe a London plain looks individually nice, but it gets a bit grating when it's the only sodding tree you see all week.

"bio diversity"

you hit all the 'progressive' talking points don't you

Lol nice troll persona, but even for you this is clearly going too far into the parody territory.

I agree with Algernon that it would be fantastic to see more of the parklands looking like this, combined with patches of more "traditional" parkland suitable for picnics and the like. The parklands are big enough we can have a variety of areas.

The cost makes it non-viable, but in an ideal situation as many of the roads cutting through the parklands would be turned into underpasses as well, to allow more unbroken parklands.

[Bobski]

This project IMO is absolutely fantastic because it has a good synergy between practical benefits and aesthetics as well. As I said earlier, I understand that the primary purpose behind this was flood mitigation and to create an effective spillway for the creeks in the area. It also just happens to create something beautiful that can invite people into the park. On that note, I think though that maybe a few of the football fields there are now gone because of this? I remember as a kid having to jump the rail of Victoria Park to play on those pitches on Saturday mornings So, maybe more dog walkers at the expense of high school kids in football studs I suppose.

Re: the bold, see Google Earth images below from 2016 vs 2024 to see what was replaced. Looks like it was just the one oval? It's a much better use of the space, IMO. It's always busy; lots of dog walkers as you say but also people power-walking/jogging for exercise, and workers either on their lunch breaks or headed into/out of the city. The paths have been upgraded including the little bridge that goes over the creek, for a smooth flow of foot traffic. It was a bit of a challenge to get photos yesterday without people in them!

Source: Google Earth

[rev]

I don't think that area was really use for anything other then storage or whatever for the supercars race, and that seems to change how much of the parklands around pitlane they use each year?
The area closer to the pitlane, where there's a bitumen walkway from halifax st right through to fullarton rd, that's had some toilets or other facilities put up and is used by various sports clubs I believe, only ever seen soccer though.

[claybro]

This development aside- I was over in SA last weekend and was pleasantly surprised by the improvement in public areas in and around Adelaide in general. Formal parks seem to be better maintained in the CBD. The riverbank precinct has definateley improved, and where appropriate the irrigation seems to be working and used. The road medians and verges are looking better, even my old stomping ground of Port Road through Charles Sturt is looking green and well kept, (well done Charles Sturt). Despite people in SA telling me what a dry winter it was...the whole city looked green, and cool despite the oppressive heat of Friday. Henley Square on Friday evening was heaving, and the new area outside the Ramsgate really compliments the square. Was great to get back and see all the developments I see on here, overall Adelaide has a buzz (even away from the cricket) and looks prosperous and well maintained. Well done SA.

[abc]

meanwhile in Melbourne

I prefer this sort of thing to the dusty semi arid Adelaide park

[claybro]

meanwhile in Melbourne

I prefer this sort of thing to the dusty semi arid Adelaide park

If im not mistaken that photo is in the Melbourne Botanic gardens precinct and what looks like governement house in the background- it should look great!. The middle of Botanic Gardens in Adelaide and nearby botanic park are just as lush and manicured. Now be honest and post a photo from near Melbourne Zoo...Royal Park. Just as dry and dusty as some of Adelaide Parklands. And by the way- they need to remove that dead tree in the middle of their lovely park. stop trolling.

[Mpol02]

This development aside- I was over in SA last weekend and was pleasantly surprised by the improvement in public areas in and around Adelaide in general. Formal parks seem to be better maintained in the CBD. The riverbank precinct has definateley improved, and where appropriate the irrigation seems to be working and used. The road medians and verges are looking better, even my old stomping ground of Port Road through Charles Sturt is looking green and well kept, (well done Charles Sturt). Despite people in SA telling me what a dry winter it was...the whole city looked green, and cool despite the oppressive heat of Friday. Henley Square on Friday evening was heaving, and the new area outside the Ramsgate really compliments the square. Was great to get back and see all the developments I see on here, overall Adelaide has a buzz (even away from the cricket) and looks prosperous and well maintained. Well done SA.

I grew up in the same area and this made me smile. I adore Henley Beach. it's really becoming something quite quaint and a little special. I too notice improvements when I return home. It's fantastic to see green spaces used and kept in a way they weren't before.

@Algernon I completely agree. Though I don't know if a rework of the Torrens could ever happen, keeping this level of development through the entire parklands will really transform the inner burns and make the city and burbs feel more connected. Small events could happen in these areas as well. You could for example expand the Fringe and have events throughout most of the parklands. There is SO much more that can be done with them. If they are to remain undeveloped, then let's bring them to life. I truly think they could become a real attraction and talking point for the city if done well.

[Algernon]

meanwhile in Melbourne

I prefer this sort of thing to the dusty semi arid Adelaide park

If only Adelaide had more European trees such as the Yacca Gigantea in that photo hey

[Mpol02]

Yes. The gums are native but more trees like this would make the city centre a little prettier