Two Green councilors have sparked a community outcry after they reneged on a promise to support more play equipment for a playground dubbed “Melbourne’s saddest” because it would mean the space would have less grass.
Despite a last-minute change of heart from Mayor Edward Crossland and former Mayor Sophie Wade, Yarra City Council voted 5-2 in favor of a $250,000 allocation for play equipment at Cambridge Street Park in downtown the city of Melbourne.
The Collingwood reserve attracted national headlines when it was reopened last November after a $2 million “upgrade”.
Local parents were dismayed because, although the grass area had been doubled, there were three minimalist metal elements to play on.
Gone are the previous jungle gyms with a slippery slide, two swings and a spring seesaw in the shade of trees.
They were replaced by a single nest swing, a balance beam and monkey bars.
Parents have criticized Yarra City Council over a $2 million park upgrade that replaced a playground with an “unattractive” swing (pictured), balance beam and monkey bars.
A slide, four-way rocking chair, mini trampoline and other play equipment have not yet been installed.
A petition asking the council to reverse the changes and reintroduce the old playground quickly gained more than 600 signatures.
Brielle Pope, a local mother with a two-year-old daughter, said she was “absolutely shocked” that the Greens broke their promise to support the return of play equipment.
“The Greens cannot be trusted at all,” Ms Pope posted on Facebook.
‘I am shocked that Sophie, who will be standing in Collingwood in the next election, has basically sealed her fate by losing the vote of the families residing in this ward.
“Leaving 7 percent of grass space in front of children is disgusting, especially given their so-called inclusive values.”
Despite promising to support the reintroduction of more playground equipment, Yarra City Mayor Edward Crossland voted against it.
Yarra City Greens councilor and former mayor Sophie Wade also voted against the reintroduction of playground equipment.
Yarra Residents Collective spokesperson Adam Promnitz slammed the council for the debacle.
“This is a costly mistake that caused national embarrassment to the council,” he told the Herald of the sun.
“Yarra has had to sheepishly admit that she was horribly wrong.”
In November, a council spokesperson defended the project, saying that during the consultation a majority of locals expressed their desire for open green space, and they delivered.
“In a suburb like Collingwood, which only has 0.3 per cent open space, expanding the size of the park was an important factor in its design,” the spokesperson told Daily Mail Australia.
‘The council has responded to the needs of the community by building a new park that doubles its original size.
“Only five of the 171 respondents requested traditional gaming equipment.”
Parents call for play equipment to be reintroduced at Melbourne Cambridge St indoor park. Pictured is the park before the upgrade.
Mr Pope said the original consultation only offered four “flawed” options and did not adequately canvass the views of locals.
“It wasn’t presented in a way that allowed people to give their opinion,” he said.
“We were not given the option to suggest alternatives.”
He said the council should have admitted there was “a mistake” and added more equipment immediately.
“I can assure you it would have been better to spend the money on equipment in the first place,” he said.
The council has also overseen two further improvements to parks in Collingwood and Richmond.