Design Consultancy Services - Concept Vision for Commonwealth Park

Commonwealth Park is a place of 34.25 hectares located on the western side of the central northern shore of Lake Burley Griffin and was established with two intentions: as a place of recreation for city residents and as a showpiece of national horticultural excellence (see Figure 1). Those horticultural aspirations were outlined in a master plan by Dame Sylvia Crowe in 1964-65 but over the years, the development of Commonwealth Park has steered more towards the needs of leisure and community events. It is now a major recreational facility within the National Triangle.

November 2023 marks the 60th anniversary of the gazettal of the name 'Commonwealth Park'. It is an opportune time to assess the issues facing the park and reimagine it, so it is an inviting civic place for the next 60 years. In developing the concept plan, the Supplier will consider issues such as the historic legacy of Dame Sylvia’s Crowe’s master plan, the impact of major events such as Floriade, access, the role of the park as a major landscape feature and public resource in the inner city, sustainability, and park management.

Since the 1980s, Commonwealth Park has sustained heavy recreational use with events such as Floriade. Additionally, there are flaws in the fundamental urban infrastructure including poor pedestrian connectivity, deteriorated trees, poor wayfinding and deteriorating infrastructure and amenity. Beyond the physical flaws, the ‘purpose’ of the park may have moved on since the 1960s and should be interrogated, as well as whether the park is living up to its potential.