Have Your Say — Cairns Regional Council Wants to Hear from You

Cairns Regional Council has launched a placemaking strategy for parks and public spaces across the region — and Palm Cove has two parks in the mix.

Williams Esplanade Reserve has been designated a Destination Park — one of the most significant classifications in the strategy. Tom McDonald Park is one of approximately 250 Local Parks across the LGA.

This is your opportunity to shape what happens to both.

Williams Esplanade Reserve — it deserves better.

As Palm Cove's signature public space, the Esplanade should be world-class. Right now there are real issues that need to be on Council's radar:

- Parking that intersects directly with walking paths

- Pedestrian safety

- Traffic management and amenity impacts

- Almost no integration for cyclists

- Inadequate path lighting

If you use the Esplanade — and most of us do — Council needs to hear from you about what needs to change.

Tom McDonald Park is currently unactivated.

Palm Cove has a median age of 54, yet the Council's placemaking strategy has almost no consideration of parks designed for older residents.

We think that needs to change. Ideas worth raising include:

- Outdoor fitness equipment suited to older adults

- A putting green

- Improved facilities for social sports like bocce or pétanque

- A community botanical stewardship group

What would make Tom McDonald Park a place you'd actually use?

Below are some images of what they are and what they could be.

Palm Cove Alliance will be making a formal submission.

Before we do, we'd love to hear from you. What matters most to you about these two spaces? Drop your thoughts in the comments — your feedback will help shape what we put to Council.
Council Survey:

https://tinyurl.com/5n8kmsxt