George Kendall Riverside Park is a recreational park in Ermington, New South Wales, on the northern bank of the Parramatta River.
The park is named after George Frederick Kendall, an alderman of the Ermington/Rydalmere Municipality from 1944–1948.Parramatta City Council, Culture and Leisure: George Kendell Riverside Park (accessed 7 January 2008).
Previous use During the 1970s, to the chagrin of the local residents, much of the area (then called George Kendall Reserve) was used as a landfill site.Planning Workshop Pty Ltd, Environmental Impact Statement: Proposed Sanitary Landfill, Spurway Street, Ermington, Parramatta City Council. Eventually the operation was decommissioned and the site revegetated.
Sports George Kendall Riverside Park is a popular sporting venue. It has the following sports facilities: Bike/walking track Association football fields Baseball field Cricket pitch Tennis courts Basketball/netball courts
George Kendall Riverside Park is the home ground of Ermington United Soccer Club.Ermington United Soccer Club, Home Ground (accessed 7 January 2008).
Amenities George Kendall Riverside Park is also a popular picnicking venue. It has the following amenities:
Playgrounds Electric barbecues Public toilets Off-street parking
Flora and fauna George Kendall Riverside Park is an important habitat for flora and fauna. The riverside is occupied by mangroves and a saltmarsh with patches of vulnerable narrow-leafed Wilsonia (Wilsonia backhousei). Elsewhere in the park are the Sydney peppermint (Eucalyptus piperita), brush box (Lophostemon confertus), red-stemmed wattle (Acacia myrtifolia) and kangaroo grass (Themeda australis). The park is also home to common weeds such as farmers friend (Bidens pilosa) and purpletop (Verbena bonariensis).George Kendall Riverside Park Committee (Nov 2006), George Kendall Riverside Park Newsletter, Issue 3.
Numerous bird species either live in or visit the park, including the grey butcherbird (Cracticus torquatus), white-faced heron (Egretta novaehollandiae) and the laughing kookaburra (dacelo novaeguineae). The park is also home to common introduced species such as the Indian myna (Acridotheres tristis).
George Kendall Riverside Park has a dedicated bushcare group that includes residents and council members who volunteer to regenerate the native bush. Every third Sunday of the month (except in the heat of summer) the group plants native species and removes weeds. New members are welcome.Parramatta City Council, Bushcare Group Regular Workdays Schedule (accessed 7 January 2008).
Proposed Upgrades The NSW Department of Planning, Industry and Environment is working with the City of Parramatta Council to upgrade George Kendall Riverside Park as part of Parks for People. The George Kendall Riverside Park upgrade will focus on the eastern side of the park. The makeover aims to create more structure to the park’s different functions but maintain its unique vast open space. Plus, it will enable better access to the riverside bike path. Public comment period ended in July 2020 and a report of results provided. More than 9,300 people visited the site and 239 people shared their ideas on how we can improve George Kendall Riverside Park and make it a better place for the community.
Upgrade timeline Late-2020: Design development begins
Mid-2021: Construction begins
Early-2022: Upgrade completed
References
External links City of Parramatta George Kendall Riverside Park Participate Parramatta George Kendall Riverside Park DPIE George Kendall Park DPIE What we heard report Ermington United Soccer Club Bushcare in Parramatta