A portion of the Williams Landing Shopping Centre car park has been transformed into an outdoor pop-up park for locals.

Brought to life by ASX listed developer Cedar Woods, the 250 square metre Williams Landing Pop-Up Park will be open throughout summer and will act as an informal extension to the community’s local restaurants and cafés.

In line with government advice following Melbourne’s COVID-19 lockdowns, the turfed space provides a safe area for outdoor social gatherings.

Cedar Woods chief operating officer Patrick Archer hopes the area, which covers part of an existing car park, will encourage the community to come together and enjoy outdoor gatherings during the summer months.

“Following the extensive lockdowns in Melbourne, we really wanted to support our community of residents and retailers by offering a COVID-safe outdoor environment where people can relax, hang out and enjoy the warmer months,” says Archer.

“Whether its ordering takeaway from local businesses, or even bringing a picnic, the pop-up park offers a fun alfresco area to add extra green space in the community.

“The car park is able to comfortably accommodate the new outdoor park area while still providing plenty of parking for everyday shoppers.”

Local businesses have shown strong support for the initiative, including Simon Barbar, owner of The Jolly Miller, who explains that it will provide more options for the community.

“It will be helpful for customers to have another option for gathering. We always have a waitlist here so it is great that customers will have another place where they can get takeaway and still enjoy the dining out experience,” says Barbar. “The space will bring more people from the community into the centre and increase the foot traffic which is always good for business.”

Wyndham City Council has supported the initiative by providing lighting and seating infrastructure to elevate the space. The council has worked collaboratively to ensure all new permits and safety measurements have been met.

“We are hoping that the easing of restrictions will allow local musicians to come and perform during the summer. We also hope to partner with other businesses in the community who may be able to benefit from the space,” Archer adds.

Throughout the summer, Cedar Woods will run a series of initiatives including a local voucher giveaway to encourage the community to support local businesses. Williams Landing is currently home to 6,000 residents who will be able to enjoy the area over the summer.

In addition to the new pop-up park, Cedar Woods has reinstated the Williams Landing Makers Markets. The market returned Sunday 6 December with many community residents showing up to support local creatives.

The market will be held again on 21 February 2021 at Williams Landing Shopping Centre, next to the pop-up park.