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Palmerston’s Adopt a Park is going from strength to strength

Residents of Palmerston Town Council in the Northern Territory can adopt a park in a bid to reduce crime, violence and vandalism. In 1992 a committee was formed to introduce Adopt a Park to the community. Thirteen years later this committee continues to engage young people and their families who live near a park to adopt the park. Families then have ‘ownership’ to help Council maintain the area and generally keep an eye on it.

Park adoptions take place when families approach the committee requesting to have an adoption. Generally, there are around three or more adoptions per year.

Palmerston Mayor, Annette Burke, said families involved in the program have the full support of both the community and Council.

“Communication is maintained between the adopters, interested public members and the committee by a three monthly newsletter,” she said.

So far approximately 60 of 75 parks have been adopted. Each park has a name sign with the adopting families listed on it.

Recently a local school, which has 52 per cent Indigenous enrolment, adopted Tiverton Park and uses it for various school classes and activities. Vandalism and littering in this park has since dropped dramatically.

Volunteers are educated through People in Palmerston Parks (PiPPs) days, which are held every three months. PiPPs days are afternoon family fun days where children can enjoy games, waterslides and nutritious picnics and barbecues in the park.

The program has received 14 awards since it was introduced. This year Council took out the first ever Northern Territory Community Award.

For further information contact Joy Ormsby, Park Supervisor, on (08) 8935 9953.

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