A NEW footpath is set to be created at the Ponderosa, also known as the Jardine Crescent Sports Field, following a years-long campaign.
The project will see the footpath broadly follow the perimeter of the park, winding around the canopy of oak trees.
The design incorporates an area in the park’s southwest corner designated for a seasonal pond.
A portion of the excavated soil will be used to bolster the protective bunds around the site, effectively preventing unauthorised vehicles from entering the park.
The remaining soil will be used to sculpt small mounds within the park, with the long-term goal being to gain funding to establish a ‘pump track’ for cyclists.
Work is due to start in the next few weeks, and the authority has spoken to Mount Nod Junior Football Club to ensure the proposed work will cause minimal disruption to them.
In 2021, Coun Peter Male presented a petition calling for improvements in the area, which gained more than 200 signatures.
He said: “I’m really pleased the Council has listened to the community and made this dream a reality.
“A new footpath will open the Ponderosa to a wider range of people, including wheelchair users and those with pushchairs.
“It will also allow for greater access in poor weather.”
