residential areas, and the erection of forbidding concrete walls after greyhound racing was introduced in the 1930s caused Wentworth Park to lose its character as a "people's park".

In 2005 residents groups in Pyrmont, Ultimo and Glebe joined together to form the Blackwattle Cove Coalition (BCC), which set about reversing this trend. BCC recognised that the Blackwattle Cove precinct has the potential to be a great asset, both for the surrounding suburbs and to Greater Sydney.

Changes are afoot
Look around you and you will see… This grand old park of amazing size (13 ha) is slowly regaining its beauty. It has a long way to go but it has started. n 2007 the Sydney City Council spent $400,000 mulching, erecting playground equipment, physical fitness stations, new lighting and pathways. Also last year the Wentworth Park Sporting Trust, which controls the centre part of the park where greyhound races are held, pulled down the western side of the ‘gaol’ wall and opened up the Sporting Complex vista which is a great start to establishing the grandeur of the site again.

And there is more to come!... A feasibility study has found it possible to remove the eastern wall, increase the width of the footpath along Wattle Street and remove the infills of six viaduct arches. Keep watching Wentworth Park, things are changing!

Goals
Despite these improvements, much remains to be done.

BCC has developed a vision for the precinct and an action plan to implement this vision. BCC's first major initiative is a community games day to be held on Sunday, 18 May 2008, from 11am to 4pm. Our specific goals include:

1. To raise the profile of Wentworth Park in the minds of the local residents for whom it is much needed open space; and
in the minds of the City of Sydney Council and the State Government.

2. To involve the community (local residents, schools, universities and businesses) and by so doing to encourage a sense of community interaction, a sense of identity and good natured inter-suburban sporting rivalry that has characterised the park for much of its history. The games are designed to involve as many people as possible of all ages and sporting interests.

3. To give all participants a greater understanding of the park - its amazing space, its history and its potential.

4. To demonstrate to the City of Sydney Council and the State Government that we value this park and want it given greater priority in terms of planning and maintenance and access through the cooperative use of the park by the community and the greyhound racing clubs.

The semaphone tower at Wentworth Park is being restored. The tower was used to signal the results of greyhound races and provided the vantage point for the man responsible for keeping the "bunny" (lure) ahead of the racing dogs.