Centennial Park gets an international gold star of approval

Centennial Parklands has been recognised for its world-leading parks management by winning Gold in the World Urban Parks inaugural 2018 International Large Urban Parks Awards. It is now the only park in Australia to hold an award and one of only two gold-award winners in the world.

With the human population estimated to double from 7 billion in the next 40 years, it’s of utmost importance to deliver good quality green-spaces in order to create vibrant cities and healthy communities. World Urban Parks created the International Park Awards to highlight world-class parks, who will act as a cornerstone for all parks to look to and to lead by example.

The 2018 International Large Urban Parks Awards granted points based on key criteria such as good design and layout, outstanding facilities, well-established community involvement and stunning park management and maintenance. Centennial Park excelled in all standards, achieving over 800 points and a Gold Award.

World Urban Parks noted Centennial Park for its “well managed and protected mix of rich nature, well-preserved heritage and provision of a good range of activities, in cooperation with the community in the heart of the densely populated inner Sydney”

Now in its 130th year, Centennial Park features formal and decorative gardens, ponds, grand avenues, statues and monuments, historic buildings, NSW’s first children’s “wild play” garden, education precinct, equestrian grounds and sporting facilities.

Awards such as this highlight the global importance of Urban Parks to both the development of cities and their communities. Phoenix Park in Dublin, Ireland was also awarded Gold, and was praised for its well-protected heritage. Learn more about Phoenix Park on their website or on their Twitter @phoenixparkopw.

The awards also help recognise the amazing variety of urban parks, showing that regardless of climate, usage and environment, countries can deliver world-glass green spaces for their communities.

Showcasing this diversity in the Silver and Bronze Award categories includes:

• Rivierenhof Park, Antwerp, Belgium (Silver): for its ongoing improvements after consultations with the citizens of Antwerp. @DeDomeinen
• Auckland Domain, Pukekawa, New Zealand (Bronze): for its preservation and interpretation of indigenous culture in cooperation with community. @Auckland_NZ
• Eco Park, Kalkota, India (Bronze): for its variety of attractions and large open space
• Parque del Agua, Zaragoza, Spain (Bronze): for its inventive re-use of the river Ebro and a former exhibition area, supplying water attractions and recreational opportunities. @parquedelagua

We want to say congratulations to all our sister parks around the world and look forward to new parks being added in the future!

Find out more about what’s happening in Centennial Park on our What’s On page, or tell us about your favourite part of the Park through Twitter @CentParklands