DAVIDSON Park has quietly risen like an oasis in the middle of Beaudesert as the CBD continues to be a noisy, dusty hive of major ongoing drainage improvements.
You cannot miss the army of contractors working around the clock to fix the flood-prone CBD, or the shop local signs in the windows of impacted businesses.
But what has finished quietly is the Davidson Park revitalisation and all its hidden gems.
Fences came down in mid-November on what is known as the ‘Gateway Precinct’ as part of the Beaudesert Town Centre Revitalisation Project.
The Beaudesert Bulletin caught up with Chris Grimmett, who project coordinated public art in the park as a volunteer with BADCAP.
Chris is a CBD shopkeeper and her business, Kalico Country, has front row seats to some of the town’s most intense excavation to help stop shops like hers from flooding.
She spoke with passion about the Davidson Park project, which has been years in the making.
“Have a close look around because the artworks are hidden and encourage people to search for them,” she said.
BADCAP volunteers were responsible for 30 nature-inspired stainless steel inserts embedded around the park and wildlife features in bronze statues by Boonah artist Catherine Anderson.
Mununjali yarning circles and signage feature art by local artist Waylene Currie (women’s circle) and Jarred Fogarty (men’s circle) with stone carving by Paul Stumkat.
The Beaudesert Railway Station remains in its current location as does the controversially mothballed Beaudesert Pig and Calf Saleyards, and there is signage including historic information about the site. The relocated and revamped Beaudesert CWA hall is also part of the precinct.
Other new features include picnic areas, a public toilet block with disability access, and the installation of lighting and CCTV cameras.
There is expected to be a formal opening of the parklands in March or April after the CBD roadworks are complete.
