by Shane Sody

South Australia's first female doctor would be turning in her grave if she knew how poorly the City Council and the former State Government were managing the Park named in her honour.

We’re on a mission to get this Park worthy of the name of Helen Mayo, and celebrated as part of your Open Green Public Adelaide Park Lands.

Helen Mayo Park, in your Adelaide Park Lands, has been saved from the former Government's proposed stadium, but the Park is still at risk.

Since 20 January 2022, the Park has been re-classified as an entertainment zone, or sub-zone which effectively means that any entrepreneur is entitled to lodge an application for a nightclub, a hotel, offices, shops etc. The new Labor administration has not yet acted upon a promise to restore this area's Park Lands zoning.

There are 257 trees in Helen Mayo Park, most of them close to the River Torrens. Many of these trees were endangered by the former Government’s plan for a stadium here, and are still endangered by the “entertainment” zoning.

However, away from the river, parts of Helen Mayo Park have few trees. Parts are neglected and abused. Part of the Park has been sacrificed to accommodate a City Council works compound:

Alongside the Council works compound, an adjacent part of Park 27 has been sacrificed for a State Government car park:

And to the west, a large area of silt, dredged from the River Torrens / Karrawirra Parri has spent the past few years awaiting a landscaper’s touch.

The Park Lands Management Strategy 2015-2025, endorsed by both the City Council and the State Government, calls for a pedestrian and cycle bridge over the railway lines to better connect the hospital precinct with the riverbank. That would be a good start.

We will be campaigning in this year's City Council elections, to support candidates who will restore Helen Mayo Park.

Helen Mayo deserves to be honoured with a substantial Park regreening and landscaping project.

Getting this Park worthy of the name of Helen Mayo will discourage any future political attacks with thought bubbles like another stadium, hotel, offices or shops on this part of your Adelaide Park Lands.

#HelenMayoDeservesBetter. Spread the word.

The Sunday Mail also covered this issue on Sunday 10 April. ($$ Subscriber-only link)