East Keilor Sustainability Street Community Garden, Keilor, Vic

Read about it here and here. A google map is here. Also (Nov 2013 update) see 2002 images at the end of this post.

 A mosaic soon to be set down by the cubby house.

 North exit way.

 Looking south from northern end.

Nearby reserves are discussed here, here and here. 

Update Nov 2013: A couple of faded pictures of the reserve in August 2002 have come to light:

Anders Park ('Anders Triangle'), West Footscray, Vic

A remarkable recent success story in the renewal of an internal reserve space, Anders Park (known locally as Anders Triangle)* is a small space of indeterminable age that owes its existence to the industry of the builder Anders Hansen, a historical figure (see biographical signpost below including inadvertant  portraits of the investigators) who happens unfortunately to share a name with a prominent Danish tennis player, or something like that (i.e. he's not easy to track down on the internet). 

Our informant at this site, Nyree, tells us that the space was neglected and threatened with redevelopment by council until local residents campaigned for its protection and conservation. The space is frequently used by locals despite council regulations prohibiting the construction of any structures within it. There is a low-key attempt at some informal agriculture in the planting boxes; there is seating; there is also a limited opportunity for vehicle access for some homeowners. The space is prized and valued by locals and forms the focus of a closeknit community. 

*Nyree tells us that the council will not allow the designation 'Triangle' as it is not actually literally a triangle, though it really does look like one...

Update: this site visited again in late March 2017

Warrego Crescent Reserve, Linden Park South Australia 2000

View this space today here.

Internal reserves are often contentious, because locals are often of the opinion that they present a danger both to properties (they provide access for burglars, etc to scale fences, etc) and person (children and others using the reserves are endangered in a secluded, unmonitored space). Some of the issues as they were seen in 1999 can be gleaned from the article below, which appeared in the local newspaper the Messenger on the 30 June 1999 (click to enlarge):



Following this, the LGA, the City of Burnside, advertised for locals' opinions on the space. Options offered included 'upgrading existing tennis courts', 'developing as passive recreation area', 'clearing for tree planting', 'offering the land for sale to adjacent residents to extend their backyards' or 'leaving undeveloped' (Messenger 21 July 1999). I have not visited this reserve for a decade, but googlemap satellite suggests the first option was taken.

Homestead Reserve, Eaglemont, Victoria 2009

Homestead reserve is a long, thin reserve included by Walter and Marion Griffin in their Glenard Estate, Eaglemont, Victoria in 1916. Unusually for internal reserves, these spaces are co-operatively owned by surrounding residents. In 2009, when this photograph was taken, I encountered a local resident who claimed this co-ownership was an insurance burden for surrounding residents - or at least would become so when someone injured themselves in the reserve and sued the multiple owners.

At present, the reserve has some play equipment and benches, but a large part of it is dedicated to vehicle access for surrounding homes. Many of these homes also receive their mail in postboxes within the reserve.
When Robert Freestone and I examined this reserve in 2001, we surveyed surrounding residents and one sent us this photograph of the annual picnic held in the reserve for locals.



The reserves and estate can be seen here as a Google Map. Because they are privately owned, they are not marked green as public space.

making parks work

Accessibility, safety and proximity. Brief segment of the ABC Radio National program By Design which discusses community initiatives on making parks safe and usable here.