FAQs

The City has a focus on renewing and activating suburban amenities and precincts and considers Samson Park as an important community space.

The project will result in two key documents that can continue to guide our work:

• A Management Plan - analysis, opportunities and vision that inform the future of the space, with a list of actions and outcomes required to achieve the vision. It will ensure the park’s ecological health while guiding the concurrent development of the Samson Reserve Master Plan 2025-2035
• A Master Plan - a concept plan (image), with design rationale and preliminary costings to deliver the future space. The Master Plan will be informed by the insights and strategies outlined in the Management Plan, along with community feedback.

These documents will provide the framework to establish a clear vision for the park and bushland, including the objectives to:

• Improve drainage systems for better functionality and ecological health. 
• Enhance accessibility, amenities and recreation in line with conservation best practices.
• Improve educational experiences, wayfinding, and signage for visitors. 
• Acknowledge the park’s cultural and heritage value.
• Revitalise the recreation space.
• Strengthen social and ecological connections and promote sustainability.

There are several opportunities or challenges for the site being considered as part of this project, including: 

• Multiple users with different needs and expectations - families, dog owners and conservationists/custodians
• Accessibility and connectivity around the site (ability to walk/move to different areas), with some areas currently difficult to navigate for prams and wheelchairs.
• Fire management practices.
• Invasive species and pest control.
• Education and interpretation.
• Drought and water management in a drying climate.
• Drainage management - opportunity for current infrastructure to be converted into a living stream to promote sustainability, enhance biodiversity, and reinforce the park’s commitment to ecological conservation 

By engaging with the community, users and potential users of the site, the City and its project team will be able to better understand these challenges, and consider strategies to address them. 

Samson Park is a Bush Forever site and a well-used community space; therefore community input is essential to ensuring the design meets the needs and aspirations of the people using it (or who would like to use it). 

There will be three key opportunities to provide input into the plan throughout the project over the next year. 

1. Preliminary input to understand how people use and want to use the space. You can submit your thoughts via this MySay page or attend our community drop-in session.
2. Testing of draft place themes, vision and facility aspirations (TBC 2025)
3. A survey to seek feedback on the draft Master Plan (TBC 2025)

The City will also engaging with Local Whadjuk Elders, relevant stakeholders and community groups. 

The first two opportunities provide the greatest level of influence over the final outcomes; so please get involved to help guide the vision and design of the Samson Park Masterplan!

As part of the Masterplan, indicative costs for essential planned upgrades in Samson Park will be prepared. Current budget allocation is set for $2,630,000 over a flexible timeline of 1 to 4 years, and will be adjusted as we the masterplan and management plan is refined. 

City officers and community groups will aim to supplement funding by seeking external grants or other avenues via the state and federal government. 

The revitalisation will likely be staged with different projects being undertaken in the short (0-5 years), medium (5-10 years) and long-term (10+ years) depending on the options and priorities.  

The City of Fremantle recognises Sir Frederick Samson Memorial Reserve as a significant and protected Bush Forever site. Other community uses may emerge through this process as we engage with different members of the community. The park will remain a public recreation and community space. 

The ongoing management of the park and the upgrades planned as part of the Masterplan will take into account the community feedback gathered during the engagement process, noting that any additions to the reserve will factor in the needs and wants of park users as well as the unique ecological status of the park.

If you are interested in volunteering your time, the Friends of Samson Park (FoSP) group is always looking for extra help to care for the park. Key tasks involve planting native tube stock (usually once a year), hand-weeding during the wetter months and watering duties during the hot summer months. 

Volunteers meet at the Samson Park noticeboard near Sellinger avenue twice weekly for scheduled activities.

For up-to-date information you can visit the FoSP Facebook page here.