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City of Stirling's Bina Parkland development in the Perth suburb of Balga has been recognised by the Australian Institute of Landscape Architecture (AILA), with Ecoscape - who partnered with the council to deliver the project - winning the 2021 National Landscape Architecture Award for Parks and Open Space.

The judges at the 2021 National Landscape Architecture Award for Parks and Open Space praised the $6.2 million project, opened in December last year, for demonstrating a strong engagement process that strove to include as much of the community as possible.

City of Stirling Mayor Mark Irwin welcomed the award, acknowledging the exceptional job the design team and City employees did in the engagement process when designing the parkland.

Mayor Irwin advised “our best public facilities are inclusive and accessible with a clear focus on meaningful engagement, which in this case led to the identification of culturally appropriate design opportunities.

“The City engaged with stakeholders such as the Wadjak Northside Elders Group to ensure the parkland delivered on local community needs. This collaboration is an example of the practical steps the City has committed itself to under our new Reconciliation Action Plan in order to better engage and empower First Nations residents of the City of Stirling.

“Workshops and collaborations with the City’s culturally and linguistically diverse community, as well as students from local schools, have set this project up to be of huge benefit to the community.

“Through their process, the designers have helped to foster a sense of ownership over the space by the community and created a local asset that is as diverse in the opportunities it provides as it is beautiful.”

Ecoscape Director Patrick Jordan said he was very proud to have received recognition for Bina Parkland, adding “this project is the result of a long period of collaboration and communication between many different parties, and we think this shows in the way Bina Parkland has been accepted and enjoyed by the Balga community.”

Located in Balga’s Princess Wallington Reserve and featuring a skate facility, BMX tracks, playing courts, parkour area and playground, Bina Parkland was created with aims to be the centrepiece of a new community hub, with free and accessible recreation options to attract a wide range of users and encourage local community events.

The developing the park, the City consulted with the community to rename the parkland with a Nyoongar name, with the winning name ‘Bina Parkland’ - meaning light of the morning - submitted by Warriapendi Primary School and chosen by the Balga community.

Lotterywest contributed $2.34 million to the overall project via community sponsorship.

Since opening, the park has won two other awards.

In May, it was named ‘Park of the Year’ at the annual Parks and Leisure Australia (WA) Regions Awards of Excellence while in July, Ecoscape secured the highest ‘Award of Excellence’ in the Parks and Open Space category at the Australian Institute of Landscape Architecture (AILA) WA Landscape Architecture Awards, which meant entry into this latest national awards ceremony.

Bina Parkland images courtesy of the City of Stirling.

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