Council is creating a plan to make Ripponlea’s public places and spaces safer, greener and more welcoming for everyone. The redevelopment of the Adass Israel Synagogue of Melbourne offers an opportunity to improve nearby public areas.

The Ripponlea Place Plan explores ways to:

• Make public areas safer and more accessible for all. This may include things like improved pedestrian crossings, lighting upgrades, vehicle barriers or reduced speed limits.

• Support social and local activity through things like public seating and wider footpaths.

• Add more greenery and shade with trees and planting.

• Improve connections with the Ripponlea train station, Burnett Gray Gardens, Adass Israel Synagogue of Melbourne and the Glen Eira Road retail precinct.

We want your ideas to guide this plan and support a safer, greener and more connected Ripponlea.

Area included in Ripponlea Place Plan

Thank you to everyone who took the time to provide their valuable feedback, from 17 November to 19 December 2025. You can now read the Engagement Summary Report and the final design.

Your feedback highlighted a strong desire to enhance the play space while preserving its natural character:

• More nature play – Many people love the existing natural elements and want more logs, stepping stones, rocks and native planting to support imaginative and active play.
• Popular play activities – Swinging and climbing were the favourite activities among survey respondents, with students also strongly favouring climbing, spinning, and active play during school workshops.
• New equipment ideas – Swings topped the list of desired additions, followed closely by more climbing structures and a greater variety of slides.
• Targeted demographics - Community members highlighted that the current space feels geared toward preschool-aged children. From feedback received from our school workshops, we were able to include popular spinner equipment, a basket swing and more challenging multi-play unit.
• Safety matters – Many community members asked for improved fencing, especially due to the nearby station, road edges, and off‑leash dogs. Sightlines and visibility were also raised as important considerations.
• Shade and comfort – Pop‑up participants consistently requested more shade and more seating to make the space welcoming for families and carers.

Next Steps: We will being engaging with Heritage Victoria and the land managers, Metro Trains Melbourne, to progress the design ready for construction. Construction Project updates will be provided on the project page (Burnett Gray Gardens Playspace Upgrade - City of Port Phillip).