McCabe Memorial Park Play Upgrade

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McCabe Memorial Park is set for play upgrades and native plantings. We’d love to hear your thoughts on the themes, colours, or what features would make the playground engaging and enjoyable for everyone.

Tucked between Harvest Road and Herbert Street in North Fremantle and established in the 1940s, McCabe Memorial Park is a beloved leafy fenced local space and thoroughfare with a memorial gate and pathway, play equipment, water fountain and seating. The City's Place and Projects Team have received capital works funding in the budget to replace the park's play elements which are nearing end of useful life. The existing playground includes a tractor unit, spring rocker boat and a set of swings which will be replaced as part of the play upgrade. The planned works include new native plantings, scheduled for winter 2026, that will infill existing park garden beds to increase biodiversity. Using locally adapted species will reduce water requirements during establishment while creating a vibrant and water sensitive garden in the park.

We're asking for community feedback to help ensure the refreshed playground at the meet the needs of all those who utilise this significant place. We’ll be looking at the park holistically to gather information and feedback to guide future works in the park. Once public consultation has ended and public feedback compiled, insights from the public will be collated to help refine the new play concept to be installed, with delivery of the new playground scheduled for mid 2027. Exact timing will be subject to contractor availability and fabrication lead times.

Please note, this playground renewal is being conducted in tandem with the play renewal of two adjacent locations in North Fremantle: Gordon Dedman Park and the North Fremantle Community Centre playground. For more information on these projects, please consult the MySay landing page.

The scope of this play renewal project includes:

  • Replacement of the existing play elements (swing set, tractor unit, swing rocker boat) which are nearing end of useful life.
  • Opportunity to include new types of play elements, fitting within the footprint of the existing playground.
  • New edging will be installed around the softfall to contain playground sand.
  • Winter native planting to infill existing garden beds in the park.

How can the community influence the project?

We are asking the public to:

  • Learn more about what is planned by exploring the Frequently Asked Questions and explainer document listed below.
  • Share what you love, how you currently interact with the park and what play design elements you would like to see by completing the McCabe Park Play Upgrade Survey.
  • View the associated materials, talk to City officers and provide feedback in person at the North Fremantle Parks Play Upgrade Drop-In-Session (details below).

How can you meet with City Officers to discuss the park upgrade and your feedback?

  • Attend the drop-in session: Drop-in sessions allow the public to meet with City staff to ask questions about the project, seek clarification and guidance on how to best submit feedback. These are informal sessions that allow the public to come and go during the time period provided. To learn more, visit our How We Engage page here.
  • Request a 1:1 or group meeting with city staff to discuss your thoughts.

Join the North Fremantle Parks Play Upgrade Drop-In-Session at the following date and time:

  • When: Saturday 21 March 2026
  • Where: Gordon Dedman Park, North Fremantle
  • Time: 10:30am - 12:00pm

City Officers aim to:

  • Collect feedback on current park experience, existing amenities and key areas where further improvements could be made if more funding becomes available.
  • Keep you informed, listen to and acknowledge concerns and provide feedback on how public input influenced the project.
  • Work with you to ensure that your concerns and aspirations are noted; provide clarity on questions that may arise.

How can you make your submission?
Submissions can be submitted online via the submission form below, or:

A hard copy of the survey can be sent or picked up upon request by emailing the Community Engagement team here: communityengagement@fremantle.wa.gov.au.

Submissions close 5pm, AWST 27 March 2026.

McCabe Memorial Park is set for play upgrades and native plantings. We’d love to hear your thoughts on the themes, colours, or what features would make the playground engaging and enjoyable for everyone.

Tucked between Harvest Road and Herbert Street in North Fremantle and established in the 1940s, McCabe Memorial Park is a beloved leafy fenced local space and thoroughfare with a memorial gate and pathway, play equipment, water fountain and seating. The City's Place and Projects Team have received capital works funding in the budget to replace the park's play elements which are nearing end of useful life. The existing playground includes a tractor unit, spring rocker boat and a set of swings which will be replaced as part of the play upgrade. The planned works include new native plantings, scheduled for winter 2026, that will infill existing park garden beds to increase biodiversity. Using locally adapted species will reduce water requirements during establishment while creating a vibrant and water sensitive garden in the park.

We're asking for community feedback to help ensure the refreshed playground at the meet the needs of all those who utilise this significant place. We’ll be looking at the park holistically to gather information and feedback to guide future works in the park. Once public consultation has ended and public feedback compiled, insights from the public will be collated to help refine the new play concept to be installed, with delivery of the new playground scheduled for mid 2027. Exact timing will be subject to contractor availability and fabrication lead times.

Please note, this playground renewal is being conducted in tandem with the play renewal of two adjacent locations in North Fremantle: Gordon Dedman Park and the North Fremantle Community Centre playground. For more information on these projects, please consult the MySay landing page.

The scope of this play renewal project includes:

  • Replacement of the existing play elements (swing set, tractor unit, swing rocker boat) which are nearing end of useful life.
  • Opportunity to include new types of play elements, fitting within the footprint of the existing playground.
  • New edging will be installed around the softfall to contain playground sand.
  • Winter native planting to infill existing garden beds in the park.

How can the community influence the project?

We are asking the public to:

  • Learn more about what is planned by exploring the Frequently Asked Questions and explainer document listed below.
  • Share what you love, how you currently interact with the park and what play design elements you would like to see by completing the McCabe Park Play Upgrade Survey.
  • View the associated materials, talk to City officers and provide feedback in person at the North Fremantle Parks Play Upgrade Drop-In-Session (details below).

How can you meet with City Officers to discuss the park upgrade and your feedback?

  • Attend the drop-in session: Drop-in sessions allow the public to meet with City staff to ask questions about the project, seek clarification and guidance on how to best submit feedback. These are informal sessions that allow the public to come and go during the time period provided. To learn more, visit our How We Engage page here.
  • Request a 1:1 or group meeting with city staff to discuss your thoughts.

Join the North Fremantle Parks Play Upgrade Drop-In-Session at the following date and time:

  • When: Saturday 21 March 2026
  • Where: Gordon Dedman Park, North Fremantle
  • Time: 10:30am - 12:00pm

City Officers aim to:

  • Collect feedback on current park experience, existing amenities and key areas where further improvements could be made if more funding becomes available.
  • Keep you informed, listen to and acknowledge concerns and provide feedback on how public input influenced the project.
  • Work with you to ensure that your concerns and aspirations are noted; provide clarity on questions that may arise.

How can you make your submission?
Submissions can be submitted online via the submission form below, or:

A hard copy of the survey can be sent or picked up upon request by emailing the Community Engagement team here: communityengagement@fremantle.wa.gov.au.

Submissions close 5pm, AWST 27 March 2026.

  • North Freo Community Centre: Play Renewal Explainer

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    The playground in North Fremantle's McCabe Memorial Park is ready for a refresh! We've put together this handy explainer to summarise the history, existing conditions and what is planned for the park - including a play refresh and winter plantings. Please review all pages of this explainer before completing the survey.

    Click here to view the McCabe Memorial Park Play Upgrade Explainer

  • Frequently Asked Questions

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    What changes to the McCabe Memorial Park grounds will be covered in this project? When will the play equipment renewal happen? Check out our Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) for more information.

    Read the FAQ here.

  • Key Document: City of Fremantle Public Open Space Strategy 2024 - 2034

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    The McCabe Memorial Park play renewal takes into consideration the aims and directions laid out in the City's Public Open Space Strategy 2024 - 2034.

    In today’s rapidly changing world, public open spaces serve as vital sanctuaries, providing communities with places for recreation, relaxation, social interaction, and connection with nature. As population growth, climate change, and urbanisation pose significant challenges, the value of these spaces becomes increasingly evident.

    The purpose of the City of Fremantle Public Open Space (POS) Strategy is to provide a clear strategic direction and framework for the provision and management of POS within the City. In doing so, the Strategy recognises the challenges presented by the City’s declining POS provision per person and limited opportunities for new POS acquisition. The City’s future directions for public open space is to ensure it continues to serve its purpose to allow the community to participate and connect in a functional, flexible and sustainable environment.

    You can read the Public Open Space Strategy 2024-2034 here.

  • Related: Our Strategic Community Plan

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    The McCabe Memorial Park play upgrade project aims to implement solutions with strategic, long-term thinking and guidance that speaks to the City of Fremantle’s 2024-2034 Strategic Community Plan, as well as the City’s asset renewal program related to parks, reserves and play equipment.

    The City's 2024-2034 Strategic Community Plan is the City’s most significant guiding document and establishes the community’s long-term aspirations and vision for Fremantle’s future. The Plan drives the City’s planning, budgeting, resource allocation and service delivery over the next decade, and was developed in direct collaboration with people who live, work, and play in Fremantle. This project meets a number of key focus areas set out by the community - most importantly that Fremantle is a "Liveable City that is vibrant, socially connected and desirable" with "sustainably designed and optimised urban and natural environments."

    Read the Strategic Community Plan here.

Page last updated: 18 Feb 2026, 12:04 PM