by Shane Sody
The City Council is inviting expressions of interest for sporting fields and sports sheds in two Parks.
In each case, existing arrangements have expired. Rather than offer an automatic extension to the existing licensees, the Council is looking to see whether other groups might like to take over the use of existing playing fields and sheds.
One site is here in G.S. Kingston Park / Wirrarninthi (Park 23) next to the West Terrace playground.
The area for “licensing” (green) and “leasing” (pink) off West Terrace in G.S. Kingston Park / Wirrarninthi (Park 23)
For many years this oval (sometimes called "Bone Timber reserve") has been used by the Adelaide Cricket Club.
Cricketers at the Park 23 field
This shed alongside the oval also includes public toilets:
The shed next to the oval in Park 23.
The other site is here, off Greenhill Road in the southern part of Veale Park / Walyu Yarta (Park 21).
Three separate areas off Greenhill Road in the southern part of Veale Park / Walyu Yarta (Park 21)
Football SA (i.e. soccer) has the current licence for both of the two sporting fields (described by the Council in the diagram above, as Option 1 and Option 3).
Football SA also leases this shed near the Glenelg tram line (part of Option 3).
The shed that’s part of ‘Option' 3'
Two fenced tennis courts in the middle (described as 'Option 2') and a tiny shed alongside were formerly used by the Victoria Tennis Club.
In all cases, licensees and lessees are responsible for maintaining both the playing fields and any buildings.
It would not be surprising if, at the end of this process, the existing organisations make the best case for having their leases and licences renewed. But the City Council is going through an appropriate process to see who else might be interested.
You can read more about the Council process (and/or find out how to lodge an expression of interest) at https://yoursay.cityofadelaide.com.au/
Leases and licences - What's the difference?
The distinction is an important one for the character of the Adelaide Park Lands as 'Open, Green and Public'.
There are many areas of the Park Lands that are licensed for use by various sports clubs, schools, and universities. It is always a condition of the licence that the licensed areas are free for the public to use when the licensee is not using them.
In contrast, "leasing" refers to a building or fenced area from which the public is excluded at all times.
Any lessee of a building on your Park Lands might later seek approval to extend or improve the building, but that is not part of the current process.
