The pocket parks will be located at Bentleigh Plaza, which is located on Centre Road, Bentleigh and Aileen Avenue, Caulfield South.

Glen Eira Mayor Cr Margaret Esakoff said with the City of Glen Eira having the lowest amount of open space within any Victorian municipality, the funding announcement is welcome news.

“Public open space and quality public spaces for social interaction are currently lacking within the Bentleigh Activity Centre,” she said.

“Bentleigh Plaza and Vickery Street are significantly underutilised, with existing rotundas and associated furniture dilapidated and in need of improvement.

“Thanks to the Suburban Parks Program funding, we will be able to move forward with the redesign of this space, which is part of our Eat Street Project.

“Works will include increasing the amount of tree and shrub plantings to greenify the area; rejuvenating the existing rotunda shelters into contemporary shelter facilities; increasing seating and social spaces; and constructing a children’s water play feature.”

Cr Esakoff said the new park in Aileen Avenue will provide a range of recreation opportunities for the local community, including passive seating areas, open lawn areas and a play space focussing on nature play with a variety of natural materials.

“The park will feature a range of landscape materials including rocks and logs and both native and exotic vegetation,” she said.

“Once completed the park will provide a focus for local residents to meet and to play.”