I think since you are looking at relocating the steam train from Kearney Springs you could kill two birds with one stone by incorporating a great steam train track through forests and tunnels at this site. It would add a tourist attraction and family attraction much like the train in other locations like Stanley Park in Vancouver or Maryborough's train. The steam train gets a funded more sophisticated track and the city gets a new attraction downtown adding to the recreational use of the park.

Maybe have a waterfall that the train goes behind! That is fun! After all this is supposed to be a 'railway park' so maybe actually have a railway?

what about getting some Shweeb's? http://www.agroventures.co.nz/Shweeb seriously great fun for all ages!

Those look so cool!

Thanks for continuing the discussion everyone. It's great to see the enthusiasm about this project.

Big wide foot and bicycle paths, bicycle parking stations (metal posts to chain bike to), trees, shrubs and flowers, grassy areas to have a picnic, maybe a small cafe, rubbish bins, toilets (to be locked at night). The big sheds could be used for weekend markets and for functions and events (put a bar and kitchen in, toilets etc to make it a proper venue).

I see in the Chronicle talk of upgrading Milne Bay! Great idea however, there is no mention of a planned sandy man made beach! How sad though to have another Burnings Warehouse over shadowing a what could be, creative beautiful community focused Parklands!!! I guess money wins over what the public would like!!

A large weekend craft and farmers market (not junk flee type market) similar to Eumundi markets. A beach, swimming type family area, with free BBQ's, even a roller skate rink that could be used all year round. Giant chess sets, sand volley ball courts, putt putt golf , buskers, face painting so many many things that could be included. Toowoomba really lacks a "fun" place for families to go that does not cost the earth.

Move the live steam guys into the area and make it an attraction. Zero depth water play area that can double as a snow play zone during winter. Covered amphitheatre for performing artists. Cafe/bar to get food and drinks.

Thank you everyone for your comments so far. It is great to see everyone so enthusiastic - keep it up :)

I just want to add, in contrast to my crazed response below, I fully expect that there will be some cafes etc. in this area. I just hope that we don't get HEAPS more cafes and shops and nothing else. Just a couple to service the area would suffice. A market are would cater to many tastes anyway?

Hi, Ive lived, worked and studied in Twmba town most of my life (Im now 40 with a little one of my own) and the one thing about this place that's always been missing is a decent aquatic area - (for ALL ages, MSG). Yes there is good old (should be demolished) Milne Bay that is always packed to the nth degree with lots of bandaids floating by, which may be OK for bigger kids but its indoors and who wants to be inside on a beautiful summers day anyway? I digress. Look, there are some lovely parks in Twmba which are a credit to TRC, but really there is very little here for anyone (besides cafe lovers) to do. And its not like we have a beach or heaps of natural areas (like Crows Nest Falls), lakes or anything nearby to explore (without driving for a least 2hrs). So my suggestions are as follows: 1. Install a water park for ALL ages - perhaps similar to the one at Hervey Bay - with board walks, shady trees, kiosk etc. (The kiosk would look fantastic if made in a traditional style taking advantage of the existing heritage buildings). Hervey Bay water park has separate areas for the little children and the big ones...AND its takes advantage of utilising runoff (up to 90% runoff services the park I believe). Im not an environmental engineer but surely that would help with flood mitigation strategies if planned well. In winter just turn it off. Is that such a big deal? No-one can deny with a burgeoning population and longer, hotter seasons this is a MUST HAVE. I agree with MSG a sandy beach area would be lovely, and could be incorporated into idea No.2... 2. Take advantage of the beautiful natural values along Gowrie Creek - incorporate native bush gardens with shady and sunny spots. Maybe widen out some spots so there are riffles and pools and stick some NATIVE water plants and fish in there...have meandering walks, bridges, rocks - that sort of thing - and acknowledge the traditional owners. That would be a nice gesture of goodwill. 3. PRESERVE THE HERITAGE buildings. ALL of it!!! TRC has a bit of a history with knocking lovely things down - dont make that mistake here. What a fantastic opportunity to build on these existing gems. Incorporate markets, both boutique and farmers!! In summer you could have night markets, live music, ahhhh the ambiance. I can just picture it. 4. A proper outdoor entertainment venue...a stage, amphitheater style. Queens Park is lovely but man-oh-man thats not what it was designed for. And it gets used for EVERYTHING. 5. A long shot here, but following on from other contributors the entirety of Gowrie Creek from the library down to around the Mort estate could all be beautified (NOT by concreting the waterway, but enhancing it's natural features), with parklands, picnic areas, even the odd small market or cafe space. A bicycle/walkway could connect the whole lot. Ahhhh HEAVEN. 6. BUNNINGS?????????????? ARE YOU KIDDING?????????????? TRC, you have a once in a lifetime opportunity to make something truly special of this space. Please please please enough of the cafes, shops and more general parks - we ALREADY HAVE THEM. LOTS of them. Thank you for the opportunity to contribute!

Though I tend to agree with much of what you have said and although I think Bunnings should not be "inner city" I support a Bunnings on the north side of town. Yes there are other "hardware" type stores but quite frankly they don't stock the range Bunnings does. Living on the outer north side of town I find it frustrating that to access any of the larger stores like Harvey Normal, Target, Big W, we have to drive all the way to the far side of town. The north side is growing rapidly and I think we are entitled to the same facilities as the Kearney Springs area.

Hey Julia, great to see some responses here! Yeah I agree with you, I live on the North side too, but there's got to be others places where they can put a Bunnings over here. Anyway, I'm 100 percent with you on the zoo idea, animals in cages - oh no so wrong. I loved all your other ideas. A skating rink WOULD be awesome!

Hi Jacinta, I think what we need is an "industrial" type park maybe on the back way heading towards Gowrie Junction, lots of paddocks out that way. Personally I would like to see much of the industry type business move out of town and then up grade the city heart with up market shops, malls etc. But with in easy access to this fun park idea. But also incorporate a farmers market and large craft market. Bring some life to the city heart.

Thanks Jacinta for taking the time to let us know your thoughts. It really is great to see the enthusiasm coming from everyone on this project!

Taking the idea of a "water park" a gigantic step further - dam Gowrie Creek at the railway bridge just above Griffith Street where the yards rejoin the mainline and create a functioning waterway for small pleasure craft - canoes, kayaks, rowing boats etc. An all round use and a second function as an emergency water supply, not necessarily for potable use, should we ever reach the precarious situation with our dams. Could widen the creek an remove the necessity to install another DIY warehouse at the Foundry site.

A similar entertainment to that at Frew Parklands Milton Brisbane . It is almost maintenance free and provides lots of diferent, all year round, playing areas . It could be located against a concrete wall [ such as Bunnings western wall] including open playing fields , BBQ's coffee shop etc . Frew Parklands is worth a look

I love the idea of the South Bank beach style area. Also street food stalls, restaurants. I think Toowoomba already has plenty of cafes. Good lighting so people feel safe to be there in the evenings. Farmers market. A place where everyone is welcome, not just families. Out door movies. I agree with others re the wine bar and food festivals.

Have a look at the facilities at Speers Point Park in the Lake Macquarie City Council area for what you need to have in a park. This park is exceptional.

I also would like to say that Toowoomba does not need another Bunnings in Ruthren Street. That area could be transformed into a beautiful entrance to Toowoomba's new innovative inland BEACH with SAND!!

An amphitheatre, sculptures, art and cafes. Silicon Downs - An innovation centre containing a co-working space with hot desks, an incubator for new technology startups, resource centre, cafe, low cost office space for new business startups and a muti-functional meeting space created in collaboration with Startup Toowoomba, TAFE SW, University of Southern Queensland, Toowoomba Regional Council with some additional funding assistance to construct the centre from a philanthropist or two and the Regional Development Australia fund.

Thank you for getting involved in the discussion on future plans for the Central Parkland precinct. From your feedback, there is a definite desire by the people of the region to have a unique parkland and experiences for residents and tourists of all ages to enjoy, and it is great to see all the ideas coming in. From these ideas, Council's design team will investigate the option of a water inspired parkland. This option would embrace the presence of Gowrie Creek and incorporate the element of water in the Central Parkland site, being mindful of our seasonal climate, the site's topography and hydrology constraints. We would love to hear your thoughts on other options involving water. This might include pop-up sprinklers in a plaza type environment with an alternate use in winter, sculpture based waterfalls and play spaces. The challenge is to create a new and unique space in the Toowoomba region that encourages people of all ages to come together and enjoy, not necessarily replicating other places such as Southbank or a Gold Coast beach environment. This brainstorming phase of the project is critical and we look forward to hearing your ideas so that we can assess them for suitability on this important site. Council has also looked at the future of aquatic activities across the region with community input into the creation of an Aquatic Strategy, which will go out for public notification later this year.

Pop up sprinklers would again be catered to babies and toddlers, not the general public! A beach with sand would cater to all ages!!! Would be amazing for a trasformation from a beach in summer to an ice skating rink in winter! How unique would that be!!! A mini zoo would be different as well like they used to have in Queens Park years ago if I remember correct!

A zoo in the city ? sorry hate animals in cages for humans to stare at, but an Ice rink now your talking. A bit of thinking out side the square. Sorry to side track but please do something about the state of Ruthven Street, plant some trees, put up baskets with flowers, anything would have to be better than what it is currently. How about turning it into a traffic free mall ? It is depressing simple as that. Grotty old looking shops many of which I imagine will close once grand central opens.

I would love to see Toowoomba plan an community parkland with entertainment for all ages. Toowoomba has a lot of parks already with the focus on very young children leaving teenagers with nothing to entertain themselves. We need to keep young people here in our city instead of them leaving when they finish school. I buy theme park tickets each year at the Gold Coast as we can enjoy quality family fun. please can this city have a man made beach as we do have hot weather and it is getting hotter and hotter each year. Even Brisbane has winter where the beach is not used due to the cooler weather!!! We need cafes. a movie screen, an entertaiment area for bands etc. Please please please we need a man made beach that does not cost the earth for families to access. It needs to be accessable to all families and teenagers no matter what their financial status. Thankyou for listening .

A speakers corner where people can stand on a soapbox and talk on topics that they are passionate about.

Something Similar to the Southbank Parklands in Brisbane, Food Hubs, Markets, Food Festivals, Swimming Areas, a place where people want to go and celebrate things, Eat Street Markets, Farmers Markets, with FREE PARKING so people want to go there.

Water play area like those in Germany, somewhere to swim that's freshwater with a sandy beach. Toowoomba is really missing a freshwater swimming place.

Water park, great cafes, food markets, outdoor artworks, wine bar etc etc