New park full of fun for families

Owen and Diana Walker with Marley, 5, and Sienna, 2, of Goodna at the park.

IT WAS named after the managing director of the Springfield Land Corporation, but the Robelle Domain became a park for the people yesterday.

Six kilometres of pedestrian and cycling paths wind their way around 24ha of native scrub, gardens, green lawns, water features, a piazza and picnic areas.

The $30m recreational park was opened on Sunday, with thousands of people piling in before midday to see the official ceremony, followed by the Kids Kingdom celebration, which was staged as part of the Ipswich Festival.

Springfield Land Corporation managing director Bob Sharpless expressed his gratitude at having the park named after him and his wife Belinda.

“These projects are a life-long commitment,” he promised the audience.

Mr Sharpless paid tribute to Premier Anna Bligh, who he credited as an early supporter of the project.

Described as the centrepiece of Springfield, the parkland went ahead with $10 million from Ipswich City Council, $5 million from the State Government and $10 million from the Federal Government.

Ms Bligh described the finished parkland as a triumph of planning.

“It is an extremely important part of liveability that people have green space to come together,” Ms Bligh said.

Karalee dad Darren Grose said his family was having a great time at the park’s opening.

“It’s the best park I’ve seen – I would definitely bring the kids back here again,” he said.

“The kids will already be looking forward to coming back to enjoy the water features in summer.”