Boongaree: the New Name Chosen for Berry District Park

The community has spoken and the planned Berry District Park on North Street Berry has a new name.

After extensive community consultation on the proposed name change for the park, the community voted for and Shoalhaven City Council has endorsed the name “Boongaree”.

Boongaree (Boon-ga-ree) is the original Indigenous name given to the area of Berry by the Wodi Wodi people of the Dharawal nation.

Extensive community engagement regarding the naming of the park was undertaken over the last three months with the community, families, schools and sporting groups.

Boongaree aims to provide unique recreation facilities that build on the existing successes of the area and facilitates future opportunities to improve and supplement broader community recreational needs.

In addition to the existing active recreation facilities, Boongaree will also have:

Children young and old will be able to play on the new skatepark extension, discover the adventure playground and slide, enjoy the messy materials play zone or experience the learn to ride facility.

The sporting community will be able to use new junior cricket, soccer and league fields, training areas, netball and basketball courts. There will be a fencing upgrade/expansion of the current cricket cage. A variety of exercise stations will also be installed to ensure this is a park for exercise, fun and play all year around.

Mayor Amanda Findley said, “Council is so excited to have an Indigenous name that reflects the heritage of the land. We aim to have an inclusive park that all the community can relax and have fun in, whether they like sport, play, somewhere to take the pooch, ride the bike or have a picnic.”