Remediation works are to commence in Kibble Park, Gosford, with the aim for it to become an improved community activity space. The Kibble Park Place Plan identified opportunities for this key central Gosford open space, including making it more accessible, safe and vibrant, also providing better facilities for the community to enjoy. As part of the upgrade, the unique John Flakelar created sculpture, currently part of the decommissioned fountain in Kibble Park, will be relocated to Sensory Park, Narara.
An assessment of the cost to refurbish the fountain, which has not operated since 2016, and surrounding degraded area revealed it would not provide good value to the community or use of ratepayers money. By removing the fountain and leveling this space, it will make it more accessible, useable for events and community activities.
Strong feedback from the community was that while the fountain might have to go - there needed to be a plan for the future of the sculpture, which was commissioned by local artist, the late John Flakelar, to commemorate the International Year of the Family. By relocating the sculpture to the revitalised Sensory park at Narara, it will respect the original intention of the sculpture and allow for a creative re-integration of the work in a public space.
The sculpture will form a centre piece of a newly designed labyrinth pathway, aimed at encouraging children and families to explore and interact with the artwork. Solar lighting will also assist in highlighting the sculpture.
Public art was identified through the Community Strategic Plan and the Regional Cultural Plan as being an important part of the region's identity, and Council will be running a community forum on Public Art in June, inviting members of the community to be part of a Public Art reference group.
The refurbishment work at both Kibble and Sensory parks is funded in the Council Operational Plan.
