This summer, Elizabeth Street will be getting back to its roots somewhat. There have been plans in the past to return the creek that flows underneath Elizabeth Street—Williams Creek—to the surface and fill the street with trees and outdoor eating areas, but it appears these have been just a pipe dream.
This summer, in anticipation of the 2019 permanent closure of the eastern side of Elizabeth Street the City Of Melbourne will be creating a pop-up park that will take up 375 sq metres between Flinders Lane and Flinders Street.
“The pop-up park will feature trees, planter boxes, artificial turf, and moveable furniture and will be a great location for small-scale events as well as everyday enjoyment,” says Lord Mayor Robert Doyle.
“The pop-up park will create a pedestrian space on the eastern side of Elizabeth Street over summer before we close this section of the road permanently in 2019. We expect the pop-up park to be well used by the pedestrians who access the corner of Elizabeth Street and Flinders Street during the peak periods. I encourage all Melburnians to take advantage of the pop-up park this summer.”
The plan for a permanent park on the site is currently being held up by the development of a 16-storey office tower at 276 Flinders Street, but the government is committed to finalising the permanent space by 2019.
Did you hear there’ll be a bar floating on the Yarra this summer? Read all about it here.
Image credit: supplied