Stepping stones, distorting mirrors, a rain wheel and timber animals will form the heart of an imaginative new children’s playground in Darlinghurst.
Lord Mayor Clover Moore will officially open Frances Newton Reserve on Saturday 16 March.
“We worked closely with the community to design this delightful new park which, in addition to being a playful space for local children, gives residents the chance to get their hands dirty by tending to a community gardening plot,” the Lord Mayor said.
“This park honours the legacy of Frances Newton, who established free kindergartens in the inner city. We’re pleased to be creating a permanent tribute to her and the contribution she made to our wonderful city.
“Small parks like the Frances Newton Reserve are great examples of how we are turning inner-city areas into creative pocket parks to be enjoyed by locals and visitors for many years to come.”
From 1902 to 1905, Frances Newton served as principal of the Sydney Kindergarten Training College and was responsible for setting up free kindergartens in Sydney.
The Frances Newton Preschool was designed and built by Sydney City Council in 1928 and served the community for 85 years. This park is built on the site of the former kindergarten and features some of the foundations as a tribute to the history of the area.
The 280 square metre park is the City’s 280th pocket park. Scattered throughout our local area, the City of Sydney’s pocket parks have added to nearly 2.1 million square metres of parks and open space.
The City of Sydney local government area has more than 370 parks, including 280 small parks and playgrounds.
Frances Newton Reserve launch
When: 11am to 1pm, Saturday 16 March
Where: 222 Palmer Street, Darlinghurst
What: The Lord Mayor will officially launch the park at 11.30am. There will be music, free coffee and gelato at the event.
