The site already features a number of playing fields and sporting facilities, a children’s playground and water splash park, a skate park, circuit path, fitness station and picnic facilities, with work on a new pavilion and sports oval expected to be completed by mid-2021.
The draft plan includes proposals for firefighting championship facilities incorporated into a public events area, as well as a new off-leash dog area.
While the plan includes a brief outline of role the 13-hectare park played as a troop training area during both world wars, Cr Glenn Elmore asked for it to be updated to also acknowledge that it was home at one point to a memorial to Merrylands resident and Victoria Cross recipient George Cartwright.
“There’s a lot of history there because it’s a very old park,” he said.
Officially opened in 1887 by Granville Council’s first Mayor, John Nobbs, an oval was created for use by rugby and cricket teams before a pavilion was added in 1898.
The park also became a well-known venue for political rallies, with a very popular ’speaker’s corner’ during the depression years, something Cr Lisa Lake also called on to be recognised in the plan.
Cr Paul Garrard supported the move, saying that he had made some “impassioned speeches” there, particularly in 1988 when opposing plans to put houses on the park.
“I’ve given some of my best speeches there,” he said with a laugh.
