Ground-breaking public park shaping Denman Prospect

Posted on 21 December, 2018

One of Canberra’s most ambitious new public parks has been unveiled.

Canberra’s growth has exploded in recent years, and with that comes inevitable concern of urban sprawl without the soul. But a new public park in the heart of Denman Prospect’s new Mountain View precinct has community at its heart.

Ridgeline Park echoes the much-beloved Dairy Farmers Hill at the National Arboretum in both scope and view. With 360-degree views stretching from the nearby pines of Stromlo and the Molonglo Valley across to the lake, The National Arboretum and the city beyond, it’s a little slice of the bush in the centre of Canberra.

The park has been designed for a variety of ages and stages, and features play equipment for kids of all ages, places to explore, picnic and play including a walking trail, a viewing deck that wraps around established pine trees as well as spaces for community events.

According to Director, Project Delivery Nick McDonald-Crowley, Ridgeline Park was part of Capital Airport Group’s dream to “create a suburb that broke away from the stereotype of Canberra’s newest suburbs —row upon row of same-same houses with inadequate infrastructure and little to no public green spaces.”

In Denman Prospect, this meant preserving some of the natural pine forests that the land sits on, but also to make sure the residents felt surrounded by nature “from when they move in, not just in 10 years’ time.”

“We’re trying to make the greenery as established as possible, so people don’t have to wait,” explains Nick.

Ridgeline Park’s first stage was completed earlier this year. The final stage has just been completed, just in time for the summer holidays, and some of Mountain View’s first residents to be moving in.

The latest sub-stage to be completed in Denman Prospect, Mountain View is located between Stage 1 and the Denman Village Shops, with views across the Molonglo Valley. It’s positioned on a gently sloping hill, meaning that the view across the Valley will never be built out for residents.

Canberra Airport Group also recently acquired the neighbouring plot of Denman North, the land across Craven’s Creek, meaning the creek area can be developed into a large multipurpose park.

“There will be a chain of ponds as you work your way down the creek corridor with bike networks and walking paths,” explains Nick. “And now that we have Denman North we’ll be able to enhance both sides to their full extent.”

“It’s the heart of the suburb, geographically.”

Visiting the site last week, it was obvious how much prime land has been devoted to making green spaces like Ridgeline Park and Craven’s Creek Reserve possible, which Nick explains was close to the developer’s heart.

“People really do want to maximise their blocks and houses these days—that’s why we’ve invested in spaces like Ridgeline Park, so that the outdoor amenities are there for people.”

In addition to the green spaces, the construction of the Denman Village Shops is also nearing completion which means that current residents in Stage One will have local shops by January 2019.

“The design of them will definitely be something special in terms of the build quality and materials used,” says Nick. “We’ve been selective with the tenants— we’re trying to make sure we have the right mix of services.”

Ridgeline Park is now open and accessible from Goldbloom Street and Temple Terrace, Denman Prospect. You can see a map of the suburb here.

More than half of Mountain View’s 160 blocks have already sold. If you’d like to find out more information, click here or call 02 6175 3300.

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