George Kendall Riverside Park is a recreational park in
Ermington,
New South Wales, on the northern bank of the
Parramatta River.
The park is named after George Frederick Kendall, an alderman of the Ermington/Rydalmere Municipality from 1944–1948.
[Parramatta City Council]
''Culture and Leisure: George Kendell Riverside Park''
(accessed 7 January 2008).
Previous use
During the 1970s, to the chagrin of the local residents, much of the area (then called George Kendall Reserve) was used as a landfill site. Eventually the operation was decommissioned and the site revegetated.
Sports
George Kendall Riverside Park is a popular sporting venue. It has the following sports facilities:
*Bike/walking track
*Football (soccer) fields
*Baseball field
*Cricket pitch
*Tennis courts
*Basketball/netball courts (though somewhat dilapidated)
George Kendall Riverside Park is the home ground of Ermington United Soccer Club.
Amenities
George Kendall Riverside Park is also a popular picnicking venue. It has the following amenities:
*Playgrounds
*Electric barbecues
*Public toilets
*Off-street parking
Flora and fauna
George Kendall Riverside Park is an important habitat for flora and fauna. The riverside is occupied by mangroves and a saltmarsh with patches of vulnerable narrow-leafed Wilsonia (''
Wilsonia backhousei''). Elsewhere in the park are the
Sydney peppermint (''Eucalyptus piperita''),
brush box (''Lophostemon confertus''), red-stemmed wattle (''Acacia myrtifolia'') and
kangaroo grass (''Themeda australis''). The park is also home to common weeds such as
farmers friend (''Bidens pilosa'') and
purpletop Purpletop is a common name for several plants and may refer to:
*''Tridens flavus
''Tridens flavus'', the purpletop tridens, red top, or greasegrass, is a large, robust perennial bunchgrass native to eastern North America.
It widespread throug ...
(''Verbena bonariensis'').
[George Kendall Riverside Park Committee (Nov 2006), ''George Kendall Riverside Park Newsletter'', Issue 3.]
Numerous bird species either live in or visit the park, including the
grey butcherbird
The grey butcherbird (''Cracticus torquatus'') is a widely distributed species endemic to Australia. It occurs in a range of different habitats including arid, semi-arid and temperate zones. It is found across southern Australia, but is absent f ...
(''Cracticus torquatus''),
white-faced heron (''Egretta novaehollandiae'') and the
laughing kookaburra (''dacelo novaeguineae''). The park is also home to common introduced species such as the
Indian myna (''Acridotheres tristis'').
George Kendall Riverside Park has a dedicated bushcare group that includes residents and council members who volunteer to regenerate the native bush. Every third Sunday of the month (except in the heat of summer) the group plants native species and removes weeds. New members are welcome.
[Parramatta City Council,]
''Bushcare Group Regular Workdays Schedule''
(accessed 7 January 2008).
Proposed Upgrades
The NSW Department of Planning, Industry and Environment is working with the City of Parramatta Council to upgrad
George Kendall Riverside Park as part of Parks for People
The George Kendall Riverside Park upgrade will focus on the eastern side of the park. The makeover aims to create more structure to the park’s different functions but maintain its unique vast open space. Plus, it will enable better access to the riverside bike path.
Public comment period ended in July 2020 and
report of results provided
More than 9,300 people visited the site and 239 people shared their ideas on how we can improve George Kendall Riverside Park and make it a better place for the community.
Upgrade timeline
Late-2020: Design development begins
Mid-2021: Construction begins
Early-2022: Upgrade completed
References
External links
City of Parramatta George Kendall Riverside ParkParticipate Parramatta George Kendall Riverside ParkDPIE George Kendall ParkDPIE What we heard reportErmington United Soccer ClubBushcare in Parramatta
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Parks in Sydney