Larkin Place has always been one of those central business district back streets with potential to be so much more than a thoroughfare with a carpark in the middle.
It’s also at the rear of three of the four Camden pubs, a couple of arcades and where parents drop their kids off to go to St Paul’s Catholic Primary School.
It connects John Street to Elizabeth Street but very few citizens to Camden would know it exists.
That’s all going to change soon with work about to start on plans to transform Larkin Place into something much more than the sum of its present parts.
It will actually be so different that council has already come up with a moniker for the new Larkin Place: #theLarkinPlacetobe.
And if it all goes well, Larkin Place could well be the model for getting more out of other Camden back streets.
The improvement works, which will begin next Monday (September 5) will include:
- Transitioning Larkin Place into a shared space;
- Temporary transformation of the entry to Larkin Place (from John Street) into a one-way road, with a colour asphalt treatment and a defined pedestrian path;
- Improved pedestrian access between Capitol Arcade and St Paul’s Catholic Primary School, through the provision of a colourful path;
- Adjustments to parking provisions at the school to include two disability parking spaces and kerb extensions;
- Temporary parklets, extended footpath and public domain infrastructure including tables, seating for outdoor dining, study, and social meeting spots;
- Installing temporary public art, including 3D artwork;
- Installing decorative lighting throughout Larkin Place.
Once all this is completed by the end of September, Camden Council says it will roll out the Larkin Place activation pilot program.
It says this program will be an exciting line-up of events and activities to activate Larkin Place and demonstrate how the revived space can be used in a variety of different ways and for a wide range of people and groups.
The program will be delivered through till February next year.
Mayor of Camden, Cr Therese Fedeli, pictured in Larkin Place, said the pilot program was identified through the third stage of council’s Covid-19 community support package.
“We’re dedicated to looking for every opportunity to help our community and this project is a great opportunity for us and a big win for our residents,” Cr Fedeli said.
“The activities in Larkin Place will help test, inform and establish a range of exciting uses for our public spaces.”
This project was made possible thanks to the $500,000 in funding council received as part of the second round of the NSW Government’s Streets as Shared Spaces grant program.
For more information, to provide feedback and to see what activations will be part of the Larkin Place Activation Pilot, visit yourvoice.camden.nsw.gov.au/larkin-place-be
