What was just a simple idea from a group of residents to fix up a Newcastle park has now turned into action.

The group, from Maryville, suggested making Hogue Park, Maryville, into a more child-friendly area at Newcastle City Council’s place making workshop.

Council established place-making projects after the closure of comm-unity forums.

Maryville residents are the first to embrace place making.

Resident Alison Gilson said residents had thought about sprucing up Hogue Park a while ago but only mentioned it to council last week at the workshop.

“At the workshop each group representative had to stand up and explain what our ideas were,” she said.

“This will be like a pilot project for place making, so we’re going to be focused on making it a success.”

The Maryville resident said the park idea came after residents asked about a play area for their kids.

“The park is under-utilised and it’s a nice place for people to get out into the sunshine,” Ms Gilson said.

“Parents I know were asking about the park and what we could do to improve it for the kids.”

Ms Gilson said residents wanted to create a play area as well as a sitting spot with tables.

Council has pledged $500 towards the park project and Ms Gilson said the rest of the funds would need to come from the community.

“We will organise a working bee for community members to come along to pull out weeds and help put tables together,” she said.

“And we will ask local businesses to support the project either with money or just to lend a helping hand seeing that they share the Maryville area with residents.”

Ms Gilson said she would like to connect the park with its Aboriginal and European history.

“Maybe even look at putting in an Aboriginal mural,” Ms Gilson said.

Ms Gilson will drop leaflets about the project into residents’ letterboxes next week.

She encouraged the community to support the project and suggest ideas about how to improve the park.

For more information phone Ms Gilson on 4962 3131.