Active recreation at Wilkinson Park, Cardiff

The existing skate park at Wilkinson Park is reaching the end of its useful life, creating an opportunity to explore new active recreation opportunities that better meet the needs of the community now and into the future.

Council is seeking community feedback to better understand how people use the park, and what active recreation opportunities you would like to see in the future.

There is funding in Council’s 2027-2028 Operational Plan to start design of the new outdoor recreation space.

Wilkinson Park currently features a playground, picnic facilities, and a shared pathway that extends south of the park. Sports fields and multi-use courts are also located nearby, providing a range of recreation opportunities.

The replacement of the existing skate park presents an opportunity to complement the park's existing recreation facilities with a new active recreation facility that caters to a broad range of ages, interests and abilities.

The project focuses on providing a new facility or combination of facilities to replace the existing skate park that meets the needs of the local community.

• Potential replacement of the existing skate facility.
• Investigation of alternative or additional active recreation opportunities
• Complementary improvements that support recreation in Wilkinson Park
• Opportunities to improve connections between Wilkinson Park and the surrounding open space network.

• Upgrade to the existing playground
• Recreation facilities that are of an inappropriate scale for the site including court facilities and larger pump track. The available footprint supports the option of a smaller pump track facility for beginner to intermediate riders, similar in size to Rathmines Pump Track. The site cannot accomodate a large pump track with extensive berms and jumps. This is why the pump track option would be considerably smaller than facilities such as Redhead Pump Track.  

Council's Active Recreation Strategy recommends that active recreation facilities are planned in partnership with the community to ensure they meet local needs and preferences.

While replacing the skate park is one option being considered, Council would like to understand how the community currently uses Wilkinson Park and what recreation opportunities are most wanted in the future before making a decision.

Community feedback, site constraints, available space and the provision of nearby recreation facilities will all be considered when identifying a preferred option.

Wilkinson Park has several physical restrictions that limit the area available for new active recreation facilities. These include established vegetation that provides environmental and amenity value, utility easements that must remain accessible, and road reserve requirements associated with surrounding roads.

As a result, only a portion of the park is suitable for active recreation infrastructure. These restrictions influence both the type and size of facilities that can be accommodated on the site.

Have your say by completing the online survey by 7 November 2026.

Following the consultation period, Council will review all feedback and investigate feasible options for the site.

A preferred concept will then be developed to inform future planning and detailed design, subject to available funding and Council approval.

Council's Active Recreation Strategy provides a framework for planning and delivering facilities that support informal, unstructured physical activity across Lake Macquarie.

The strategy aims to encourage participation in activities that promote health, wellbeing and social connection by providing a range of active recreation opportunities that meet the needs of different communities.

An active recreation hub is a location where active recreation facilities are co-located with complementary park, play and sporting infrastructure to create a destination that attracts a broad range of users.

Wilkinson Park is identified as a Neighbourhood Active Recreation Hub within Council's Active Recreation Strategy.

Neighbourhood hubs typically include:

• one key active recreation attractor, such as a skate park or pump track or
• several smaller recreation elements that collectively encourage participation in physical activity.

The final mix of facilities at Wilkinson Park will be informed by community feedback, available space, the site's role within the active recreation network, and nearby recreation opportunities.

Council has funding in the current 2026-2027 Operational Plan to plan and commence design of the replacement active recreation facility.