Lismore City Council Mayor Steve Krieg today officially opened the newly constructed pathway in Heritage Park, providing an accessible pedestrian link from Molesworth Street through to the river.

The new 2.5m-wide path also includes lighting for improved night-time safety and allows for better access to toilets and play equipment, ensuring the park is an even more attractive and usable destination for locals and visitors. 

Lismore Mayor Steve Krieg said he was pleased that the path highlighted one of his favourite park elements.

"One of the best features of the new path is the well-designed raised deck around the glorious 90-year-old fig tree that offers visitors a variety of shaded-seating options," he said.

"The fig tree was planted in one of the city's streets in the mid-1930s and transported to Heritage Park 25 years ago. It now provides shade for the new seating so the community can relax and enjoy all the park has to offer.



"The new path also allows visitors to enjoy a stroll from Lismore City Hall on Molesworth Street through the centre of Heritage Park to Riverside Park and the Wilson River. "Our river will become a major asset for our city down the track when we get our flood mitigation right but to be able to have these walkways through some of the best parts in Australia, linking the CBD, it's amazing. "

"One of the first announcements I made as the mayor before the flood was the shade sails over the waterpark. You drive past here on any weekend, and there are dozens of kid's birthday parties, even during the week. You've got Mums and Bubs groups meeting here, it's just a real asset. You don't talk about parks in your community too often but a beautiful park like this is a critical piece of infrastructure and to have this work done to such a high standard by our council is a full credit."

There is more work planned for Heritage Park, however, this is subject to funding with no details released on what the next improvements will be.

Mayor Krieg did talk to the Lismore App about potential development around Heritage Park and down to Wilson's River.

"We've had some early discussions with a private sector group that actually wants to be involved in building around this area and make it into a bit more of a tourist-friendly place and a bit of a draw card. "They have a vision and as I said we've had very early discussions, one or two chats with the organization involved but just visually it would really make Lismore a drawcard.

The $682,000 pathway upgrade is one of three projects totalling $1,500,000 undertaken through the Revitalisation of the Lismore CBD program funded by the NSW Government. 

Member for Lismore Janelle Saffin congratulated the Council on a successful outcome to a key part of the Revitalisation program.

“It’s great to see the amenity of Heritage Park enhanced, given it is such a beloved feature of our downtown area that has been enjoyed by local families for many years,” Ms Saffin said.

“Our community has been through a lot over the past 17 months and projects such as this are a welcome tonic.”