Residents are preparing to fight a plan to sell-off parkland for housing.
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Orange City Council will examine a proposal by Cr Russell Turner to modify Esso Park between Woodward and Hamer streets.
It would involve adding two council-owned blocks of land on Woodward and Summer streets it is struggling to sell, but turning same-sized land fronting Hamer Street into residential blocks.
Resident Kate Catterson said she was shocked when she learned of the proposal.
The park is opposite Orange High School and is a safe area for the students to wait to be collected by their parents on Hamer Street.
- Kate Catterson, resident
Mrs Catterson said the park should keep its existing configuration and asked councils to provide better maintenance, install more play equipment and look at having a personal training area. She said suggestions the park was under-utilised were wrong.
"A park can't be simply slipped further down a street and not be affecting the existing size of the park area," she said.
"That isn't 'rejuvenation' of the park, that is literally taking away existing recreationally-zoned park land without any consideration for the residents of the area or the city of Orange."
She said the park was vital for residents, students and visitors.
"Esso Park, like all parks and recreational areas in Orange, is an important park as it's the first travellers from the north of the city encounter when they come into Orange.
"It is also imperative to keep these green areas from being developed by councils and councillors alike.
"The park is opposite Orange High School and is a safe area for the students to wait to be collected by their parents on Hamer Street, without creating a traffic hazard on the Mitchell Highway and a safe space outdoors to catch up with their friends."
Mrs Catterson said moving the park to the corner of Summer and Woodward streets could create dangers for people playing next to a busy road.
"It's the busiest corner in Orange without [traffic] lights. Can you imagine a ball going out there?"
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