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 big park in Southport. It's a great place for families and community events. You'll find lots of areas for kids to play and spots for barbecues. The park got a big makeover and opened again on August 23, 2009. Anna Bligh, who was the Premier of Queensland, helped open it. Today, it's a very popular place for families to visit.
Contents
How to Get to the Park
Parking Your Car
The Southport Broadwater Parklands is right next to the Gold Coast Highway. It's also across from the Australia Fair Shopping Centre. There are car parks inside the park for visitors. You can also find parking along the Gold Coast Highway. Both types of parking cost money. The City of Gold Coast manages them.
Using Public Transport
It's easy to reach the park using public transport. The best way is often the G:link light rail. This train runs from Broadbeach South to the Gold Coast University Hospital. It goes through Surfers Paradise and Southport. There's a G:link station very close to the park's entrance. Trams come every 8 minutes during busy times. The Southport Bus Station is also just a short walk away. You can catch buses there to nearby areas.
Park History
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 down. In the 1960s, the Southport Pool was built.
In 2005 and 2006, the Queensland Government and the Gold Coast City Council started planning to update the park. By late 2006, they had a first plan ready. People in the community shared their ideas in 2007. The final plan was released in December 2007. A company called Abigroup started building Stage 1 in March 2008. After about a year and a half, the parklands opened on August 23, 2009. Stage 2 of the building work started soon after and 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.
- Celebrate 150 years of Queensland being separate from New South Wales.
- Create a strong community feeling and celebrate Southport's history.
- Make a space for big events like the Gold Coast Marathon and the 2018 Commonwealth Games.
As of November 2011, only two stages of the park were finished. However, the original plan suggested more developments for the future.
Stage 1 Features
Building Stage 1 started in March 2008. It opened on August 23, 2009. This stage included:
- A long pier that goes 100 meters into the Broadwater. It offers great views of Surfers Paradise.
- A large events lawn for big city events. These include the Gold Coast Airport Marathon.
- Picnic spots where you can relax or play games.
- A public stage with a big outdoor screen for watching movies.
- The Pavilion building with a rooftop deck for elevated views. It has park information and public toilets.
- A new pedestrian crossing linking Nerang Street to the park.
- Walkways and bridges to explore an 'urban wetland'. This area cleans stormwater before it enters the Broadwater.
- A path lined with fig trees for shade. It's perfect for markets or picnics.
- Casuarina trees along the shoreline provide shady spots for families.
- Unique artwork was shown when Stage 1 opened.
- A car park with space for about 200 cars.
Stage 2 Features
Building Stage 2 began after Stage 1 opened. It was finished by the end of 2010. This stage added:
- Rockpools, which are water play areas with a coastal theme.
- The Hill, a large grassy area. It has a 2.5-meter tall sculpture of a child and a teddy bear.
- ANZAC Park, where the war memorial was moved. It now overlooks the Broadwater.
- A viewing platform to enjoy the scenery.
- An operations hub for park maintenance staff.
- Picnic areas with barbecues.
Future Plans
The original plan for the park included more developments. These have not happened yet. They included:
- Moving the Gold Coast Highway to run next to Australia Fair Shopping Centre.
- Building an 'Old Shoreline' Water Garden near the moved highway.
- Making the swimming area bigger.
See also
