Shaping Parramatta Square’s public domain
Workshop to transform Parramatta Square
New York-based urban design guru Ethan Kent has kicked off a series of workshops with Parramatta City Council to help shape the public domain of Parramatta Square, currently one of Sydney’s largest urban renewal developments.
The first public workshop was held today, with further discussions to take place early next year.
Lord Mayor of Parramatta Cr John Chedid said that to ensure Parramatta Square’s public spaces met the needs of the people, it was vital to get the community’s input at the early stages.
“A City’s public spaces are critical pieces of infrastructure ”“ they shape how people interact with the City, determines its liveability, which ultimately forms the basis of its economic progress. In order to draw investment and business to a place, it must first attract people. This is why I want to put people at the centre of what we’re doing with Parramatta Square,” Cr Chedid said.
“This workshop was an opportunity for us to hear directly from the people, to get their ideas and views on Parramatta Square’s public space, which will cover more than 6,000 square metres. This is just the start of the conversation and I expect there to be further engagement with all sectors of our City as this project progresses.
“We were very fortunate to have Ethan Kent there to facilitate the workshop and present a raft of ideas from public spaces around the world that could be implemented in Parramatta Square.
“The discussions were very vigorous and produced some great ideas. We want to activate our city centre and ensure we can meet the needs of all those using it ”“ that we provide a fantastic mixture of spaces for everyone, including quality cafes, bars, restaurants and retail outlets, along with dynamic open and green spaces.
“Feedback from the workshops will inform the brief Council will prepare for the public domain design competition, which we plan to launch early next year,” Cr Chedid said.
As the Vice President of Project for Public Spaces, based in New York, Ethan Kent has helped transform a number of cities in the United States, Chile, Dubai, Hong Kong and New Zealand. He is best known for his work in New York, where his innovative approach to planning and urban design has helped create vibrant public spaces in Times Square, Hells Kitchen and the Meat Packing District.
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