We, the undersigned residents of Bayside, call on Bayside Council to reconsider and support a feasibility study into delivering a local splash park for our community.

Bayside is home to thousands of young families. According to Australian Bureau of Statistics data, over 11,000 families in Bayside have young children, representing a large and growing cohort of children who rely on accessible public recreation. Yet despite our extensive waterfront and open space, Bayside currently has no dedicated free splash park facility that is safe for young children.

The recent motion seeking a feasibility study into delivering a splash park was not a commitment to construction. It was simply a responsible first step to properly assess location, cost, demand and long-term benefit. Council denying even that step prevents informed, evidence-based decision-making.

Bayside’s foreshore is one of our greatest community assets. It already attracts walkers, sporting groups, retirees, grandparents and families gathering on weekends. However, there is no free structured water-based play infrastructure specifically designed for young children in this space. For the thousands of families with toddlers, the beach simply isn’t a safe or practical option. Toddlers need safe, controlled water play areas; the open beach cannot provide that.

A splash park located in Bayside would activate open space, encourage intergenerational use, support local small businesses through increased visitation, provide a safer alternative to children playing unsupervised near the bay, and help families manage extreme heat during increasingly hot summers.

Splash parks are inclusive, free to access, and suitable for children of varying ages and abilities. They are proven community assets across many other Sydney local government areas.

This proposal is about equity. It is about ensuring Bayside’s youngest residents have somewhere local, safe and free to cool off, play and connect.

We call on Bayside Council to reintroduce and support a feasibility study into delivering a splash park within the Bayside LGA, investigate suitable locations, and undertake genuine community consultation before ruling out this initiative.

Let’s create a space where Bayside’s youngest residents can safely laugh, play and grow; right here in their own community.