Park powers to the next level

MR Power Park has become a hub for skating, scooting, basketball, footy, and exercising.

Major upgrades at the community reserve in Sebastopol were officially opened last week, offering a skate park, a 3×3 basketball court, footy goals, a seniors’ exercise space, walking paths, barbecue facilities, and toilets.

The project was funded with $300,000 from the City of Ballarat, and $440,000 via the State Government as part of the $5 million Spotlight on Sebastopol project.

As a “Sebas boy,” City of Ballarat mayor Cr Des Hudson said the park overhaul was close to his heart as soon as it was sparked by the suggestions of a community committee.

“Representatives included people from the Ballarat Neighbourhood Centre, Phoenix College, the RSL and community, who said, ‘we need to do something for local youth’,” he said.

“Kids in the Sebastopol corridor now have good access to quality facilities.”

Cr Hudson said as soon as the construction fence was taken away, children were at the park and ready to enjoy it.

“They wanted access,” he said. “It’s already been getting an enormous amount of use, which is fantastic.”

Eleven-year-old Esther headed to the skatepark with her scooter last Friday morning and said she’d already been a few times.

“I like that it’s a place for the community to come together to have fun,” she said. “I’ve seen a lot of people here, from as young as six, coming to have a scoot.

“It’s a really good environment, and I’m happy that it’s a big improvement, encouraging the community to get outside and be in nature, instead of being inside all the time.”

Member for Wendouree Juliana Addison said she visited MR Power Park in the days before the official launch and saw people of all ages using the space.

“I met a grandpa… here with the grandkids, skating away,” she said. “I met secondary school kids who were keen to show me their tricks… and kids from Haddon who had come over to try MR Power Park.

“They were out of their house, off their screens, making friends, and testing their comfort zones. They were having the time of their lives and it was because of this skatepark.

“If we hadn’t had invested in this park, those kids wouldn’t have been here and having the best time.

“With the new AFL goals, who knows… We could have the next Jeremy Cameron, or Tony Lockett, living in the housing estate across the road, spending their early days at MR Power Park.”