Background

In late 2020, Council began engaging with residents on the opportunity to transform part of the Raleigh Street car park into a pop-up park, creating a local outdoor space where people could relax and connect during pandemic restrictions.

In 2021, the space was converted into a temporary park featuring a scooter track with ramps, a bouncy half-court, bike and scooter loop, grassed open space, hopscotch, a handball court and seating.

Following its opening, the park was described as a silver lining for residents living within five kilometres of Footscray during lockdowns. It has remained a popular local destination, offering a flexible, welcoming and easily accessible space for both active and passive recreation.

In May 2022, we asked the community if they wanted the Raleigh Street Pop-Up Park to stay and, if yes, what features they would like to see in a permanent park.

A design project commenced to convert the temporary park into a permanent addition to the open space network.

Of the 207 online responses received:

You can read more about what the community said in the Engagement Summary Report.

The community was asked to provide feedback on the draft Concept Plan in May and June 2026. You can explore the draft below, and learn about what the community said in the Engagement Summary Report.