"Game changing" recreational hub for Stockton

A region-first urban skate plaza and playground with flying foxes and water features will breathe new life into Stockton and help promote both sides of Newcastle Harbour.

The community facility to be built on Stockton foreshore west of the ferry terminal will provide a scenic, new meeting place amid the stunning backdrop of Newcastle's skyline.

The 140-metre "Active Hub" in Griffith Park will serve as a significant new attraction not only for locals of Stockton and Fern Bay but all Hunter residents and tourists in the age of social media.

Inspired by the ideas of local primary school kids, a concept plan on public exhibition from tomorrow reveals a design drawing on the city's industrial history through elements such as docks, a crane, sand dunes and scaffolding.

"This community facility will be a social and economic game changer for Stockton," Newcastle Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes said.

"Griffith Park has long needed some clever urban design to activate its open expanse and I believe this hub fits the bill.

"Kids of all ages will have some great exercise options and parents and guardians will be able to keep tabs on them while relaxing and socialising in a shelter with good sight lines and BBQ facilities.

"It's not hard to imagine families and skaters utilising the hub and posting images of the city skyline in the background to Instagram, Facebook or Twitter. The facility will also make the park a much safer place for all walks of life and give local businesses a boost."

^{"Pumps" track.}

The $1.25 million project will be partly funded by section 94 developer levies collected by Newcastle and Port Stephens city councils.

The idea for a new playground and skatepark was initially supported by the community and council in 2012 with the adoption of the South Stockton Reserves Public Domain Plan.

In 2016, primary school students at St Peter's Primary School, Stockton, requested a playground for Griffith Park in persuasive letters to council and invited council officers to view models they had built.

^{Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes and Council's Asset Planning Coordinator Rachel McConkey showing pupils of St Peter's the concept plans yesterday.}

Other features slated for the new playground include:

• A 30-metre-long double flying fox
• Basket swing
• Lookout crane tower with spiral slide
• Accessible spinner
• Rock pool water play features with sculpted rocks and water table
• A social area with shelter, BBQ and picnic table
• Features for the urban skate plaza are to include angle ledges; hubbas, kerb cuts, A-frame kickers, zig zag ledge and a pumps track

Community members are invited to provide feedback on the active hub plans before Friday 4 August 2017.

The concept plan can be viewed from Wednesday 28 June at:

• Stockton and Newcastle libraries
• City Administration Centre
• Council’s website

Find out more at a community information drop-in session to be held near the Stockton ferry terminal on Saturday 22 July from 1pm to 3pm. Check Council’s website for updates.