FRANKSTON City Council is working closely with young people across the municipality to design new and expanded youth activity programs. This follows Council’s ongoing commitment to investing in facilities and services for young people, such as the recently completed $750,000 Langwarrin Skate Park upgrade.
Informed by feedback from local young people and jointly funded with $170,000 from the
Australian Government’s Investing in Our Communities Program, the skate park now provides a modern, inclusive, and accessible space for skating and riding scooters and BMX bikes.
The upgrade forms the second stage of improvements. The first stage which began in 2022 in response to a youth-led petition presented to Frankston City Council, resulted in the installation of shelters and seating in April of that year. Jakob, 13, is a regular at the upgraded park and loves meeting up with friends to test his skills close to home. “I go to the park and track a few times a week now – it’s so lit!” he said.
Building on this approach, Council has resolved that new programs will be delivered where there is demonstrated demand, with a focus on promoting positive youth engagement and providing safe spaces for young people to connect and participate in their community.
Carrum Downs has been recognised as having a gap in youth activity provision and in response, Council has established a collaborative alliance with Lyrebird Community Centre, Carrum Downs Secondary College, Victoria Police and the Frankston Social Inclusion Action Group. Together, the group is working to identify local needs and develop a coordinated response.
Consultation has already engaged more than 300 students from Carrum Downs Secondary College, with many highlighting the importance of a local chill-out space like Council’s youth hangouts in other suburbs. Additional engagement with Flinders College students and younger children at community events (including the upcoming official celebration for the completion of the $4.95 million Sandfield Reserve Precinct Revitalisation Project) will ensure diverse voices inform the program design.
Frankston City’s busy Youth Services team develops its programs with a strong emphasis on youth participation, guided by the Youth Action Plan 2022–26 and the Council and Wellbeing Plan 2025- 29.
This ensures programs reflect the lived experiences of young people and are designed with their direct input.
Deputy Mayor Cr Steffie Conroy said Council is focused on ensuring young people feel seen, heard, and supported. “Every young person deserves spaces where they feel welcome and activities that inspire them to get involved. By listening directly to young people and working with our partners, we’re not only filling service gaps but also building a stronger sense of belonging for our youth,” she said.
“As someone who grew up locally in Carrum Downs, this is something I really value.”
Federal Member for Dunkley Jodie Belyea MP said the Langwarrin Skate Park upgrade shows the value of young voices in shaping community infrastructure. “When young people are at the table, the results speak for themselves. The new Langwarrin Skate Park is proof of that — designed with their ideas front and centre, and now delivered through strong partnership between Council and the Australian Government,” she said.
Engagement activities will also extend to Langwarrin in 2025, coinciding with the reopening of the upgraded Langwarrin Community Centre, which has traditionally been the home for Council’s local youth hang outs. The centre is currently being redeveloped to include early years and other family services facilities as part of a broader investment through the Building Blocks Partnership between Council and the Victorian Government. This partnership will provide up to $15.45 million from the government across three projects delivering up to 371 new kindergarten places.
Cr Michael O’Reilly said these projects show how Council is building a long-term foundation for the city’s young people. “When we invest in youth facilities and programs, we’re really investing in the future of our whole community.” “It’s about giving young people positive opportunities to connect, grow and thrive. That’s ultimately something everyone in Frankston City benefits from,” Cr O’Reilly said.
First published in the Frankston Times – 7 October 2025