|
Mythical Beast, a civic park enhancement project in the City of Tea Tree Gully, is a public place where functional qualities, artistic design, community culture – and even fantasy – have combined to form a unique and enduring community environment. My feeling is that the park will become a much more useable area and therefore more of a focal point for the community. I am happy to see a facility that combines functionality with artistic design, says a Golden Grove resident. The two informal seating areas of Mythical Beast in Tea Tree Gully's Civic Park cater for different sized groups. The designs are loosely based on the forms of fantastic mythical animals and are constructed of natural materials, painted with imaginative colours and detailed in mosaic tile. Elements include a barbeque area with a tiled surface, a snakes and ladders table and places of discovery for young children. The Beast is part of Council's Civic Park enhancement, started in the late 1990s. The Council wanted to provide a unique place for enjoyment that would reduce vandalism, encouragecommunity ownership and encourage greater use of the entire park. Mythical Beast was developed by artists Martin Corbin, Lynn Elzinga-Henry and Adrian Potter, in association with Cielens and Partners Landscape Consultants and Council. The work of the artists in this specific part of the park provides the design focus for paving styles and other project elements, and generally acts to integrate the visual amenity of the park. To ensure authenticity and relevance of the design concepts, the artists researched the history, heritage and culture of the City of Tea Tree Gully. The artists were involved from the early stages of the project and were able to drive and inform the upgrade of the park. Community consultation, assisted by a community reference group, was a key factor in this project's success. The Civic Park enhancement provides facilities for the community and is attractive to tourists. It fits with Council's values and strategic direction: A community that celebrates its diversity and richness and develops unity through sharing culture, activities, civic pride, tolerance and mutual support. Resources: Council funded the majority of this project together with funding from the Federation Community Projects Program and Arts SA. Courtesy of Creative Communities and the Creating Communities project kit, which comprises:
• Guidelines for developing and maintaining an arts and cultural policy
• Good practice story sheets
• Policy story sheets 
| | Head of the Mythical Beast created by the project’s design team. Photograph: Courtesy of the design team. |
|
Email this page
Print-friendly copy
