Why we're consulting

As part of the Willow Park Master Plan, developed in 2022, the eastern area of the site was identified for redevelopment for play and recreation activities. In late 2025, we sought feedback from the community to help inform the development of designs for this space.

Preliminary designs for the Willow Park Active Recreation Project are now available for the community to view and provide feedback on.

The Willow Park Active Recreation Project will provide an inter-age, accessible play space that appeals to the broader play and recreation needs of the community. The area will include three zones with key features include a medium sized accessible multiplay unit, a multisport court, ground level play within a learn to ride circuit, integrated landscaping and connecting paths.

The Willow Park Active Recreation Project is supported by the Victorian Government.

The proposed Multisport Play zone provides a flexible, active recreation space catering for a range of ages, abilities and sporting interests.

• The area features a full-size regulation basketball court with colourful, non-slip acrylic surfacing to create a durable and visually engaging play space.
• Black mesh fencing (3.0m) is strategically positioned behind goal towers to help contain stray balls and reduce conflicts with nearby pedestrian paths and the learn to ride track, the remaining sides are also enclosed by fencing (1.5m).
• The playing court will offer a pair of extra heavy duty galvanized basketball towers with full sized backboard and standard ring/net.
• Custom fabricated multi-goals integrated into the perimeter fence allows the area to support informal foosball/soccer, hockey, cricket, and other ball games as well as the marked-up basketball court.
• New shade trees are proposed along the western side of the Multisport Play zone, providing increasing afternoon shade and improved amenity as the trees mature, while helping to soften and integrate the court within the surrounding park landscape.

The proposed Learn to Ride Track, inclusive of proposed track extension around existing nature play is located away from the main Willow Park playground and shared path network, creating a dedicated and safe environment for young riders.

Clear sightlines are maintained throughout, allowing parents and carers to supervise comfortably from nearby seating areas.

The track incorporates mini-intersections and roundabouts that mimic a real street network, providing a variety of loops and route choices. This encourages children to develop riding confidence, spatial awareness and an understanding of basic road rules through play.

Landscaping is intentionally kept to a minimum to retain as much grass and open space as possible, providing a forgiving surface for accidental falls. Existing trees are carefully incorporated into the track layout to create interest, define different routes and make use of existing shade. New shade trees are to be incorporated at key locations to provide increased natural shade as they mature, and to strengthen the existing parkland character.

• Smooth concrete track suitable for scooters, balance bikes and bicycles, with an average width of 1.6m to provide room for passing and less-confident beginners.
• A variety of intersections, crossroads and roundabouts creates multiple route options and encourages riders to practice navigating different traffic situations.
• Traffic signs are supplemented by simple line marking to help young riders identify lanes, understand intersections and confidently navigate their way around the track.
• Pedestrian crossings
• Bike “whoops” section
• Role-play cubbies

Increased accessible and inclusive play is a key feature of the renewed playspace. To maximise the benefit of the existing shade infrastructure, play equipment is arranged within a more compact footprint generally beneath the existing shade structure.

Key features include:

• An inclusive carousel for accessible play
• An accessible multi-age play module incorporating 20 activities to cater for a broad range of ages and abilities.
• Inclusive play elements are provided at both deck and ground level
  
• Key accessible activities located within the wetpour rubber zone to provide firm and accessible circulation.

More challenging activities extend into the loose soft fall zone, including:

• Monkey bars
• Net crossing
• Glide rail
• Double senior slide

Other elements include:

• Single springer
• 2-bay swing with various seating options
• Music play
• An Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) sign located at the playspace entry supports inclusive play by providing visual symbols that children who are pre-verbal, use sign language or have unclear speech can point to in order to communicate with peers and carers.

Willow Park is classified as a neighbourhood park. Neighbourhood levels parks are typically larger, and more prominent that local play spaces with distributions similar to local primary schools.

The role and function of a neighbourhood level park is a community meeting place for play and social recreation. Visits are often connected to other attractions and are of a longer duration (one to two hours).

Wodonga Council is committed to the provision of high-quality play environments across the municipality. These should be equitable and diverse; accessible, inclusive, stimulating and challenging for a variety of age ranges. Play spaces should account for children’s physical, social, cognitive, emotional and creative skills offering variety.

The project has been designed to meet the objectives and vision of the Play Space Strategy 2024-2029.

The Play Space Strategy 2024-2029 guides the development of our play space network and independent site assessments and safety audits determine renewal recommendations and prioritisation.

To assist with analysis and identifying priorities, Wodonga has been divided into play space precincts. These precincts are designed between major roads and waterway barriers to ensure that play space provision is accessible and does not require residents to traverse major roads or rivers. Willow Park is located within playground precinct Wodonga 8 (W8), along Pearce Street and accessed via Nordsvan Drive.

Water play and/or a splash park is outside of scope for this project. The Wodonga Creek Activation Project looks to address this gap in amenity.

Ways to have your say

This consultation is open from Friday, November 6 to 5pm on Tuesday, November 26.

Anyone who lives, works, studies or invests in Wodonga or visits the municipality and uses the facilities, is invited to review the information provided, ask questions and provide feedback during this time.

Ways to provide feedback

• Complete the online submission form at the bottom of the page
• Email: makewodongayours@wodonga.vic.gov.au
• Phone: (02) 6022 9300