Griffiths Park was officially opened on Wednesday the 15th March with a tree-planting ceremony, ribbon cutting, and light refreshments for kids to enjoy.

We’d like to take this opportunity to thank you for your involvement in the project and look forward to seeing you enjoy the new upgrades.

Please note the additional planting will be happening in the winter months and we look forward to finishing the project soon.

The City of Fremantle’s major upgrade to Griffiths Park in Hilton is now underway. The project includes the replacement of the ageing play equipment with a larger nature-play playground, conversion of the unsightly drainage sump into a multi-use swale and new waterwise garden beds to replace some turfed areas at the edges of the park.

A new irrigation system will also be installed throughout the park, and 34 new trees planted. Local residents may have noticed some forward works activity at Griffiths Park over the past few days, including tree surgery on the very big Tuart tree to the south of the site.

The City’s head contractor – O’Connor-based PHASE3 Landscape Construction – will commence major works at Griffiths Park within a couple of weeks. In the meantime, site fencing will be erected around the perimeter of the park. The new playground will feature a flying fox, a variety of different swings and a large fort with slide, climbing wall, climbing net and fireman’s pole.

The conversion of the stormwater sump into a landscaped multi-use swale will see the barbed wire fence around the sump removed and replaced with a usable community space incorporating local plant species, walk trails, seating and wild play. New mulch and local water-wise garden beds will also replace turf in some areas. This hydrozoning strategy seeks to conserve water and increase biodiversity.

Unfortunately, due to the size and nature of the work involved, the entire park will have to be fenced off for the duration of the project, which will likely finish in January 2023. The City regrets any inconvenience to residents and park users at this time and greatly appreciate your patience during construction.

We'd like to thank everyone who participated in the Griffiths Park upgrade engagement for their patience. The City is working hard to put the project back out to tender. Whilst we are in the Tender phase, the City will be coordinating the removal of a number of trees to allow for the basin conversion to parkland and to remove poor quality trees so you will see some works occurring on site. The vast majority of the trees being removed are very small non performing specimens and residents will be pleased to know that the City will be planting 34 new trees into the basin, and garden beds around Griffiths Park this winter.

Hilton Residents may have noticed that upgrade work has not yet commenced on site as planned.

There are a few reasons for the delay including the need to go back out to market for the construction contract. Whilst the tender documents are being re-worked, we have used the opportunity to undertake a very detailed Arboricultural report on the Griffiths Park trees to assist in their protection with the report including an internationally recognised Amenity Tree Valuation (The Helliwell System).

The City is also aware that Western Power will be commencing the Hilton Power Undergrounding project which includes work within Griffiths Park so the City’s upgrade works will need to consider the Western Power work impact and timing.

Construction is now programmed for completion in Winter 2022.

Thank you to everyone who provided feedback on the Draft Concept Design for the Griffiths Park Upgrade. The feedback gathered in the second stage of engagement will now be used by the City’s landscape architects to amend the Griffiths Park Upgrade design as deemed appropriate and in accordance with available funding and resources. Access the report via our document library.

The engagement report has now been compiled and is available in the document library along with an appendix including online comments and community submitted ideas. Work is underway on a draft concept!

You can explore each aspect of the upgrade in the interactive image below - click to view proposed options and information and click the icon on the bottom right hand corner to enlarge the image.

What we've heard already

Through other recent engagements we've already gathered some input from you about Griffiths Park.

Some things you most value are the open green space, mature trees, quiet, pathways and the opportunity to talk with neighbours while walking the dog.

To make Griffiths Park better suit your needs you'd like to see the park get some love through 'inviting' nature spaces, play elements that encourage connection with nature, simple sit spots / more seating, better maintenance of the grass (patchiness, thorns and broken or overspraying sprinklers), and low key play elements (logs, tyres, ropes etc).

Please share your ideas online by 4 July 2021, either in the survey or on our ideas board. You can also come along to our pop-up at the park to chat to specialist staff and share your ideas on Saturday 19 June, anytime between 1.00pm - 3.00pm.