By Cam Lucadou-Wells
Casey Council is set to investigate ways to activate the “passive” reserve Ackland Park in Narre Warren North.
Councillor Rosalie Crestani told a 17 October Council meeting that residents had suggested barbecues, seating and exercise equipment to make better use of the open-space parkland.
With more families moving into the area, “we want as many people to engage in that space, and to develop it a bit more,” she said.
However, there were also residents who preferred the park to be left as is, Cr Crestani said.
The council will also look into ways of deterring drivers of petrol remote-control cars that had taken over the park’s BMX track.
Michael Allday of the Narre Warren North Community Association said warning signs had failed to ward off the remote-control drivers, leaving kids with their bikes watching on the side of the track.
There were dedicated remote-control tracks in the region, including Knox Council, he said.
New residents also wanted the jumps removed from the track, now that many of the original BMXers were now probably driving cars, Mr Allday said.
The park had been long regarded as a “passive park”, in keeping with the sparse available parking, he said.
There was also a need for better drainage at the reserve.
“It’s a very wet park, and the council even has problems mowing it in winter-time.
“We’d certainly like to try to get a better usage of it – and try to deter other people using it for remote-control cars.”
