The Wade Park Draft Masterplan is taking shape following community consultation back in May, with two council pop-up sessions attracting nearly 100 residents and 368 online responses, including Lismore City Council's (LCC) 'Your Say' website plus 183 Facebook comments.

At an LCC councillor briefing on Tuesday night, Baz Richards from Context Landscape Architecture presented the Draft Master Plan that is considering a 10 to 20-year time frame. Mr Richards sought feedback from councillors before finalising the draft, which LCC would put back on public display for further comment.

The resulting draft drawings was an impressive look at what East Lismore residents and other residents from the Lismore LGA could be enjoying in the future.

The result is high-quality play equipment and nature play in fenced areas with a number of key features that will attract families with younger and older children.

Car Parking for 42 cars would be on a sealed surface at the northern end of Wade Park, keeping all cars outside of the park area thus improving safety. Currently, parking is on a gravel surface near the northern end, with some parking also available in the middle of the park. This would be an increase of approximately 12-14 car parking spaces with the current estimation being 28-30.

There would be a social hub with repaired paths, new picnic facilities and seating, defined as an 'intergenerational' space and improved connection from the East Lismore pre-school.

Vertical climbing areas will be for adventurous younger children up to early teens.

A contemporary amenities block with accessible toilets and change facilities would be built in a more convenient location towards the middle of the park.

Basketball/multipurpose courts are the blue area on the map near the car park area.

A learn to ride/pump bike track with undulating landform is below the main play area and to the left of the social hub.

Dog owners will have separate large and small dog fenced areas in the bottom left corner.

Councillors questioned the size of the dog play area, asking if it could be expanded as there was a lot more land available. This was definitely possible.

A key point in rebuilding Wade Park is to make it more resilient to flooding as it often affected by storm water. The plan is to move water away from the park through improved drainage, which would include widening existing drains. The aim is to make the park resilient for a 1 in 20-year flood apart from the dog park area.

It is suggested the Wade Park Master Plan would be implemented in three stages:

Stage 1: inclusive play with accessible toilets and car park.

Stage 2: supportive recreational elements like basketball/multi-purpose court, learn-to-ride, seating and social hub.

Stage 3: Older children adventure play and dog park, widening the channel and tree/shrub planting in the southwest.

The next step is to take the councillor's feedback, update the Wade Park Master Plan and seek councillor approval. If that is successful, the plan then goes on public exhibition once again with, hopefully, a positive outcome.

The critical funding process will then begin as Lismore City Council staff seek the most likely funding sources available.