Dan Gleeson Memorial Gardens — Attraction in Thuringowa Central

Smaller than the botanical gardens around Townsville. Has a small lake with a water fountain, plenty of open green space, relatively quiet further into the park from Thuringowa Drive, has a playground, gazebo, several park benches, plenty of shade and many plants. Conveniently located next to the Kirwan library, and community centre.

Only issue is the now-larger section overrun by bats. It's really not fun in that section (nearly half the park). They're noisy, smelly and in their many hundreds. The areas affected by bats has meant the council has effectively closed the section with the lake, and the grass in that area is slashed, not mowed. The footpaths along the bat-area smells atrocious. The other-side of the park seems more welcoming and it's harder to hear the bats there. The playground and library is...

Used to be a beautiful park until the bats come and the council did nothing. Shutting off the water supply and just abandoning the area.. made it look very unpleasant. Not to mention the smell was horrible and revolting. I feel sorry for the residents at the aged care facility having to smell this all the time going through the air-conditioning...

Was a lovely place years ago but the TCC has allowed it to become a bat breeding area unfit for any human activities. Where once you could picnic beside a clear man made water feature, you are now confronted with a putrid muddy pond and the pungent smell of bat droppings. Thank heavens Dan does not have to see what became of the gardens cultivated...