Future Village Road Closure Parklet

Road Closure Parklet

ROAD CLOSURE TRIAL - QUANTIFIED RESULTS - PERMANENT CLOSURE

McKeon St - Initial Temporary Road Closure

Randwick Council engaged Future Village to deliver a temporary public plaza on McKeon Street, Maroubra as part of the NSW Government’s Streets as Shared Spaces Round 2 program. The project aimed to improve access, expand public space, and create a welcoming, pedestrian-focused environment where the community could connect, dine, relax and enjoy local events.

The tender required a full design-and-delivery solution — including outdoor dining areas, shaded seating, children’s play opportunities, temporary greening and a flexible entertainment space — along with maintenance and end-of-life removal.

Top view of design showing central area layout

Flythrough of temporary closure design

Collaborative Design

Council and their architects approached us with early concept sketches. We worked closely with them to refine these ideas into a practical, buildable and cohesive design that met the brief, responded to the coastal conditions and could be delivered efficiently on site.

Designing for a Coastal Environment

McKeon Street sits directly opposite Maroubra Beach, exposing the site to strong sea breezes and salt spray. To address these challenges:

We specified hurricane-rated umbrellas (tested up to 100 km/hr) and developed custom raised decking trays that allowed the umbrellas to be securely bolted into the structure. Integrated perimeter seating maximised comfort and ensured theft and wind uplift were mitigated.
Plant selections focused on salt-tolerant species, ensuring resilience throughout the trial.
A series of GRC pots were retrofitted with water reservoirs and wicking systems, painted to suit the palette, and paired with our larger planters to create a layered, cohesive landscape.

View of temporary road closure

Kids genga and raised stage and converted GRC pots behind

Community Response & Project Outcomes

Throughout the trial period, Randwick Council ran an on-site QR code survey to capture real-time feedback from plaza users. With 262 responses, the results demonstrated overwhelming community support, with 90% of respondents wanting the Plaza to become a permanent space. Only 7% said no, and 3% were unsure.

The trial also strengthened the connection between Council and local businesses. Ongoing conversations led to practical adjustments to the layout, programming and parking arrangements, ensuring the Plaza functioned well for both the community and nearby traders.

Engagement & Sentiment

As part of the Streets as Shared Spaces funding acquittal, Council undertook a comprehensive engagement program to test sentiment on the Plaza’s layout, activities and long-term future. A Neighbourhood Sentiment Survey through Your Say Randwick, supported by a 10,000-letterbox drop, received 730 responses.

Feedback was collected from residents, visitors and local businesses through online surveys, social media, informal site discussions and face-to-face interviews.

Across the engagement:

85% said the Plaza should become permanent
10% said no
5% were unsure
48% visit the Plaza to eat out
28% use it to catch up with friends

Participants also reported strong perceptions of safety and amenity:

97% see the space as safe
69% feel it has a good atmosphere
67% view it as a good place to socialise
88% believe the Plaza has a positive impact on the community

Economic Impact

Council also measured economic activity using Spendmapp data, comparing 2022 to 2021 across dining and specialised retail. While local spend showed a modest uplift, the most notable shift was in visitor activity:

Dining & entertainment visitor spend increased by 61%
Specialised retail visitor spend increased by 87%

These results show a clear benefit to local businesses and a significant rise in precinct activity during the trial period.

Tree planters with vinyl artwork

Ribbon Cutting at opening

Bike racks, stand up tables and GRC pots

Large planter with attached seat

Garden trays with natives

Dining zone with benches and cafe tables

McKeon Street - Permanent Road Closure

Following the strong community support and clear uplift in business activity, Randwick Council resolved at its April 2023 meeting to make the McKeon Street Plaza a permanent public space. Construction of the permanent plaza was scheduled for completion by September 2023.

Council prepared an initial concept layout informed by community feedback, combining insights gathered during the trial into a consolidated “mud map” plan. At the same time, Council engaged Statewide Civil to undertake civil works, including removing guttering on the southern side of the street, re-asphalting the roadway to create a seamless pedestrian surface, and installing additional electrical ports along the light poles.

Design & Project Management

Plantabox was commissioned to design the permanent road-closure layout and bring the vision to life. Our scope included:

Developing detailed plan drawings,
Producing 2D and 3D visualisations,
Creating animated fly-throughs, and
Preparing outdoor dining licensing plans for local businesses.

Design concept supplied by Council

Final design by Future Village

We were also appointed to Project Manage all components within the closure area. This included coordination and installation of road art, soft-fall surfaces, planters, canopies, performance stage structures, street furniture, and bike and surfboard racks. The road closure was completed and opened in September 2023 and is still in place.