Council to turn a street into park

 By RICHARD PEARCE

An unnamed road in Caulfield North will become the area's latest park under a proposal from the Glen Eira Council.

The road, which connects Eskdale Rd and Fitzgibbon Cres, will be closed to traffic and converted into a green area for pedestrians and local residents. The park will provide a central seating area and a walkway between the streets.

Glen Eira Council has one of the lowest percentages of open space of any Melbourne municipality, at 4.5 per cent. It also has one of the lowest amounts of open space per capita.

Council documents reveal the road caters for “very low and localised traffic volumes, and (its removal) would not create adverse traffic conditions”.

While access to properties will be unaffected, there will be a loss of on-street parking.

The council could not provide an exact cost of the proposed development, but indicated it would be incorporated into the continuing budget of the Open Space Strategy.

Strategic projects planner Thomas Anderson said the proposal turned a relatively under-used street into a place that was highly usable for local residents.

"This plan is a low-risk, high-reward scenario for Glen Eira and residents of Caulfield North," Mr Anderson said.

Most residents welcomed the change, saying it would enhance the area.

Caulfield North resident Portia Hudson said she thought the plan was a great idea.

"It’s nice to have green areas around and let’s be honest, the street as it is now is a bit of an eyesore,” Ms Hudson said.

Not all residents agree, however, and some have raised questions about the cost, construction and demand for the area.

One homeowner, who did not want to be named, said the plan seemed unnecessary.

"We have plenty of parks … and I always wonder about the cost of these things,” the homeowner said.  

The proposal comes as part of the council's open space strategy, which aims to address the need for more parks and reserves in the community.

The strategy began in 2013 and will guide the provision of public open space to the Glen Eira community until 2026.