Sun Theatre owner Michael Smith is thrilled with the Pop-Up Park, which will materialise outside his cinema next month. 74999 Picture: KRISTIAN SCOTT
By Charlene Gatt
RESIDENTS will literally be able to dance in the street next year when Yarraville’s Ballarat St is transformed into a pop-up park during the summer months.
Maribyrnong City Council will close off Ballarat St between Murray and Canterbury streets to traffic between January and April next year and roll out the synthetic turf, large planters, tables, chairs and umbrellas to create a temporary piece of public open space that will be used for events and activities.
The idea was inspired by similar projects across London and New York and came about after a study identified a lack of open space in the Yarraville village, with narrow footpaths causing pedestrian congestion.
Cr Martin Zakharov said the park would offer a space for people to come to together, relax and enjoy the outdoors in the heart of an urban environment.
“It’s taking a small stretch of a Yarraville street – probably the busiest street – and creating public open space,” he said.
“I think it’s going to be an interesting experiment.”
Sun Theatre owner Michael Smith praised the council’s proactiveness.
“I’m absolutely ecstatic. It’s great to see the council doing something interesting and different that’s been successful in places like London and New York,” Mr Smith said.
“It just confirms that Yarraville is one of the world’s great villages.
“Normally we all sit around and complain that our council doesn’t do anything… I’ve been really impressed. (They’ve) had a vision about how to make Yarraville interesting and have put an enormous amount of work into it.”
