$1M upgrade of Coolum’s Jack Morgan Park sets the scene for community events

Picture this in the heart of Coolum as the sun goes down.

A large public park hosts a musical theatre performance captivating an audience on picnic blankets.

A group is playing table tennis on the new custom painted outdoor table.

Artwork lighting is projected onto the nearby buildings.

People are enjoying an evening walk through the green spaces along new pathways lit up with LED lighting.

This is what you can expect to see once almost $1 million of improvements to Coolum’s Jack Morgan Park are completed.

The second stage of the park upgrade is underway now and has secured a production of The Owl and the Pussycat for early September, soon after its completion in August.

In recognition of the project’s community benefit, the Marcoola Community Bank branch of Bendigo Bank has partnered with council and contributed a total of $50,000 towards the park’s upgrade.

Division 9 Councillor Steve Robinson said he was excited to see one of council’s most significant Coolum projects underway.

“The park upgrade is part of the endorsed Jack Morgan Park masterplan and the design is really something special, with elements like stone clad decorative wall seating, around 1600 new ground plants and 20 new trees,” Cr Robinson said.

“I’d particularly like to thank Bendigo Bank for its contribution to the overall project and our community for their strong support for this project which is creating a wonderful outdoor space for Coolum.

“We’re connecting the park to the library, with an outdoor reading area under the fig trees adjacent to the library’s new open timber deck where people can enjoy a picturesque backdrop while reading a good book, using the free Wi-Fi and enjoying lunch or a coffee.

“I’m sure the community will welcome the increased open recreational space which will become available at Jack Morgan Park, taking some of the pressure off Tickle Park.

Manager of the Marcoola Community Bank branch of Bendigo Bank, Kerryn Vincart, said the decision to partner with council on the project was really one made by the North Shore community.

“Back in 2012, we hosted a community forum at the North Shore Community Centre. Groups shared what they wanted for special part of the Coast and a number of projects were listed, including this one at Jack Morgan Park. It’s our largest contribution to a single project to date,” Ms Vincart said.

“I’m proud to say this is the second project we’ve partnered with Sunshine Coast Council on with the Marcoola Streetscape in 2014 being the first.

“Our branch exists because our community wanted its own bank.

“We look forward to working closely with council on future projects as more locals realise that by banking with us, the more we can give back.”

The upgrade also includes car parking improvements, a shade structure, tables and seating areas, additional bins, an irrigation system, drainage and a drinking fountain.

The first stage of the Jack Morgan Park Upgrade Project was recognised with a Queensland award from the Institute of Public Works Engineering Australasia (IPWEA) in the Excellence in Design and Delivery of Public Works Project under $2 million category.