Residents and tourists in Pingelly now able to enjoy $1 million Memorial Park

The $1 million redevelopment of Pingelly’s Memorial Park is complete, with children and adults alike now able to enjoy a sprawling recreational space in the heart of town.

Featuring immersive playgrounds, barbecues and wide-open community spaces over nine areas, Memorial Park was designed to be a drawcard for visitors as well as a favourite local destination.

The Shire of Pingelly project was supported by a Federal Government grant through the Drought Communities Program.

Planning for the park started in May last year, with the Shire asking the community to have its say on a proposal to redevelop the area.

Funding was announced in November and on-site work started in February.

With the project now all but completed, Shire chief executive Andrew Dover said residents were keen to use the park immediately.

“Just as soon as the barriers came down, the temporary fencing came down, they were almost queuing up to get in, it was fantastic,” he said.

The park features an early childhood playground, a nature playground for all ages and an expansion of the existing playground.

There is a dedicated market space with power access for the community markets and a central amphitheatre for community gatherings. Only wi-fi and other minor works are still yet to be completed, with work expected to wrap up over coming months.

Mr Dover said he was pleased with how it had turned out.

“It’s a fantastic opportunity for the Shire to articulate what’s important for it and that’s the community and the growth of the children within the community as well,” he said.

“People have been very happy that we’ve been able to incorporate the previous uses but really upgrade them.

“We’ve kept the memorial section but also added in a place for events like movie nights and that sort of thing, so we’re really excited about the upgrade.

“We’re very pleased to see it opening and it’s been a fantastic result.”