Southport Broadwater Parklands facts for kids
Pathway, 2015
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| Address | Marine Parade |
|---|---|
| Location | Southport, Gold Coast, Queensland |
| Coordinates | 27°58′1.39″S 153°25′3.24″E / 27.9670528°S 153.4175667°E |
| Type | Public parklands |
| Construction | |
| Opened | November 1928 |
| Renovated | 23 August 2009 |
The Southport Broadwater Parklands is a huge park in Southport. It's a fantastic place for families and big community events. The park has lots of different areas for kids to play. There are also barbecue spots for families to enjoy. The park got a big makeover and reopened on August 23, 2009. The Premier of Queensland, Anna Bligh, officially opened it. Southport Broadwater Parklands is now a very popular spot for families.
Contents
Getting to the Park
Parking Your Car
The Southport Broadwater Parklands is right next to the Gold Coast Highway. It is also across from Australia Fair Shopping Centre. The park has car parks for visitors. You can also find parking along the Gold Coast Highway. Both types of parking cost money. They are managed by the City of Gold Coast.
Catching Public Transport
You can get to the park easily by public transport. The easiest way is to use the G:link. This is a light rail line. It runs from Broadbeach South to Gold Coast University Hospital. It goes through Surfers Paradise and Southport. There is a G:link station very close to the park entrance. Trams arrive every 8 minutes during busy times. The Southport Bus Station is also a short walk away. It connects you to nearby suburbs.
A Look Back in Time
The Southport Broadwater Parklands became a public space in November 1928. Back then, it had a pier and public swimming baths. Over time, the old pier wore out and was taken away. In the 1960s, the Southport Pool was built.
In 2005 and 2006, the Queensland Government and the Gold Coast City Council started planning for a big park makeover. A plan was ready by late 2006. People from the community shared their ideas in 2007. The final plan was released in December 2007. Construction of the first part began in March 2008. The park reopened on August 23, 2009. The second part of the park was finished by the end of 2010.
Park Makeover
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The Queensland Government and Gold Coast City Council spent over $42 million on the first part of the park's makeover. The main goals for the new design were:
- To connect the Gold Coast city center with the Gold Coast Broadwater again.
- To celebrate 150 years of Queensland being its own state.
- To create a strong sense of community.
- To provide a space for big events. These include the Yugambeh Festival, the Gold Coast Marathon, and the 2018 Commonwealth Games.
Only two parts of the park have been built so far. However, more plans for the park were suggested.
Part 1 of the Makeover
Construction for the first part started in March 2008. It took about a year and a half to build. This part of the park opened on August 23, 2009. It included:
- A long pier that goes 100 meters into the Broadwater. It offers great views of Surfers Paradise.
- A large events lawn. This is where big events like the Gold Coast Airport Marathon happen.
- Picnic areas where you can relax or play games.
- A public stage with a big outdoor screen for watching movies.
- The Pavilion building. It has a rooftop deck with high views. It also has park information, toilets, and showers.
- A new pedestrian crossing. It links Nerang Street and Southport's main area to the park.
- Walkways and bridges. These let you explore the 'urban wetland'. This area cleans rainwater before it goes into the Broadwater.
- Shady fig trees. This area is great for markets or picnics.
- Coastal casuarina trees. They provide shady spots along the water for family gatherings.
- Special artwork that was shown when the park opened.
- A car park for about 200 cars.
Part 2 of the Makeover
Construction for the second part began after the first part opened. It was finished by the end of 2010. It included:
- Rockpools – a water play area with a coastal theme.
- The Hill – a large grassy area. It has a big sculpture of a child and her teddy bear.
- ANZAC Park – the war memorial was moved to a new spot here. It overlooks the Broadwater.
- A viewing platform.
- An operations hub for park staff.
- Picnic spaces with barbecues.
Images for kids
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Part of Southport Broadwater Parklands' redevelopment master plan
