A tale of two parks. Individually the "Memorial" aspect is worth five stars, the "Dog" aspect four. Within the one site, overall, it is a rating of three stars because they do not blend so well for all wishing to visit here.

Once the site of the Balmain Cemetery that opened in 1868. Many years after the last recorded burial in 1912, pursuant the Old Balmain (Leichhardt) Cemetary Act 1941, the site was converted into a public park: Pioneers' Memorial Park. Only some of the burial caskets were removed & the headstones were used were in construction of the surrounding wall.

The pamphlet from which I have taken the above, is the "Balmain Cemetery" pamphlet (see photos).

The "modern" life of the Park perhaps dates to 18/11/44 when it was officially opened as "Pioneers' Memorial Park" & the dedication stones revealed in the landmark sandstone arch main entrance; leading to the pine-tree lined path including the remarkable War Memorial feature which it long predates. Though the captured machine gun from WWI (which led to the awarding of a VC) has been removed, the relevant plaque remains.

The memorial aspect of the Park, according to the dedication stones, is indeed to "Pioneers" of the area, including those buried at the site, but not specifically to the brave soldiers of wars honoured by the War Memorial feature. It is not locally - or at all - viewed in that limited way, with "Memorial" being given the emphasis in the appreciation & interpretation of the site.

The "modern" Park upon opening was dedicated as a "permanent place of quiet recreation and enjoyment for generations yet to come".

In some respects the "modern" Park has not rested peacefully since its opening. In the 1970s it was proposed that the Northern end would be lost to a road development - called "The Western Distributor". Its consecrated ground status, the terms of the Act creating it and community support saw that proposal off, and incidentally saved a lot of residential houses & local amenities in the proposed path of the road.

The density of trees (as opposed to the flower beds) in the Park was also fought in the past; it is now more densely planted than it was for its first "modern" decades. However, a (fluid) compromise leaves the Western end with the memorial rows of pines and flower beds standing out and not swamped. Safety at night was also relevant. Making the Park a venue for festivals, fetes, etc was also a local issue, with a QC opinion referencing the Act being part of the case that has seen the Park continue in a way more in keeping with its history and modern dedication than it might otherwise have been. The full history is worth exploring.

The Western end of the Park is ia beautiful place to visit and enjoy, from the perspective of the Park's history and "Memorial". However, putting aside the childrens' playground which would surely be fine for all memorialised & the dedication to generations to come (stretching "quiet"), this aspect of the site has been coupled with assigning the Eastern side of the site an off-leash dog park.

A great off-leash dog park. A huge area to accommodate many dogs and space to run long and fast; and so many trees! However, dogs are bad at either reading signs of where they are allowed off-leash or picturing lines on a map on the ground. They do chase, investigate or confront from within to outside the off-leash zone.

The on-leash (Memorial) Park zone does not go across the site West to East, which means that people who want to traverse the Park & not risk encountering an off-leash dog for anxiety around dogs or for physical or cognitive conditions that make contact with off-leash dogs of a variety of sizes and dispositions undesired or unwise, cannot.

Sadly the on-leash zone of the (Memorial) Park zone is not widely respected and leashes are often removed well within. This is not fair for some people, birds, nor the place. On leash, I trust an owner would pull a dog away from doing what it is doing, where it has chosen to do it. Memorial features evoking strong feelings and dog impulses do not blend.