“Well-planned, well-designed public parklands will provide long-term benefits to Western Australian communities”. Indeed. “Parkland refers to land that has been reserved for the purpose of formal and informal sport and recreation and/or preservation of natural environments such as
bushland, wetlands, river and coastal foreshore systems.”
“Public parkland enhances urban amenity and provides landscapes that can positively impact community health and social connectivity, biodiversity, local water quality and water management, air quality and mitigation of the urban heat island effect.
This guide is intended to inform those working in planning and design about principles and practices to assist in achieving parkland that:
• meets user needs;
• optimises community benefits;
• augments existing landscape features;
• suits the local environment; and
• supports sustainable water use.
This guide may be used as a reference point for discussion between planners, developers, designers and associated agencies and authorities throughout the planning and development process. Addressing issues relating to planning, design and diversity of public parklands will help to meet future community needs. It aims to assist to:
• ensure that parkland can adequately meet the functional needs of the community;
• promote greater industry knowledge and understanding through multi-disciplinary approaches to collaborative decision making;
• encourage and support integrated planning and policy development at all levels; and
• focus planning and design on end-user experience.