Charles Evans Reserve is a small park in Cremorne, in between Dover Street and Cubitt Street:

Location of Charles Evans Reserve. Image credit: Apple Maps.
Charles Evans Reserve playground. Image credit: City of Yarra.

Upgrade

In 2023 and 2024 Council conducted community engagement on a upgrade of the reserve, including extending the open space across Cubitt Street to host a multi-use play area for older children, while noting that Cubitt Street is a dead-end street abutting the City Link wall.

Draft concept design. Image credit: City of Yarra, Andrea Proctor Landscapes.
Concept of an extension across Cubitt Street. Image credit: City of Yarra, Andrea Proctor Landscapes.
Street space to host the extension. Image credit: Apple Maps.

Council approval

On 18 June 2024 Council unanimously endorsed the concept design and resolved to proceed with the detailed design:

Excerpt from Minutes from 18 June 2024. Image credit: City of Yarra.

Cancellation of the extension

However, in February 2025 Council indicated that the extension across Cubitt Street was cancelled, owing to “engineering challenges including drainage issues”.

Excerpt from Agenda for 11 February 2025. Image credit: City of Yarra.

Our view

Our view is that the explanation for the cancellation of the extension lacks an adequate justification. The extension offered a 10% increase to the area of the park, and a multi-use play area for older children. We urge Council to explain why the extension couldn’t proceed.

How you can help

You can help by appearing on the Streets Alive Yarra website as a champion for your local street, neighbourhood, or school.

Let’s build a beautiful, liveable and accessible city

How you can help