Crows Nest Place

eat, play , connect

Make Willoughby Road Crows Nest a place for people to

EAT

PLAY

CONNECT

A bird’s-eye, photographic view of a redesigned Willoughby Road block transformed into a calm community plaza. In the center, a cluster of sturdy wooden picnic tables and built-in benches forms an eat-and-chat zone, while a nearby open area with painted hopscotch-style patterns and low, movable play blocks signals a playful space. Lush street trees in large planters create soft shade over light stone paving. Overcast, diffused daylight ensures even lighting and minimal harsh shadows. The composition is carefully balanced, with clear pathways and curb-free edges illustrating a pedestrian-priority environment. The atmosphere is orderly, professional, and optimistic, highlighting how the street can support shared meals, casual play, and neighborhood connection without any human figures.

Why Crows Nest Place Matters

Why do we need Crows Nest Place?
Acute shortage of open space
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Crows Nest – St Leonards has only 3.49 sqm of open space per person. This is expected to drop to around 2.8 sqm per person, by 2036.
•
Greater Sydney has an open space ratio of 28.3 sqm per person!
•
By 2036, almost 90% of North Sydney LGA population will live in apartments, in medium and high-density dwellings.
•
People living in apartments rely on community open spaces, parks and facilities – for recreation, health and wellbeing.

Read FAQ

Events

A close, photographic street-level view of a quiet corner pocket park just off Willoughby Road, designed as a place to eat, play, and connect. A smooth timber-topped communal table sits beneath a canopy of leafy branches, adjacent to a small open play pad with brightly painted geometric patterns on the ground. Nearby, a curved, low brick wall doubles as informal seating. Soft morning sunlight filters through the trees, creating dappled patterns across the table and pavement. Captured from a slightly low angle using the rule of thirds, the image emphasizes textures of wood, brick, and foliage. The mood is calm, safe, and thoughtfully planned, reinforcing a professional community vision for shared neighborhood spaces without depicting any people.

Streetwalk

Join neighbours on Willoughby Road to imagine Crows Nest Place, share ideas, and show support for full pedestrianization.

Register
A dusk photographic scene of Willoughby Road temporarily closed to traffic, reimagined as a community dining and play street. Long, continuous tables with simple, coordinated place settings run down the center of the asphalt, now overlaid with painted play zones and subtle wayfinding patterns. Overhead, a canopy of warm string lights stretches between buildings, creating a gentle glow that reflects off shopfront windows and illuminates the textured road surface. The camera is positioned at eye level, looking down the length of the street to convey depth and scale. The atmosphere feels festive yet orderly and professional, showing how the street can host shared meals, playful interaction, and neighborhood connection, purposefully rendered with no visible people.

Workshop

Help shape the petition strategy, learn about council processes, and plan outreach to residents, businesses, and local representatives.

Attend
A detailed, photographic close-up of a multi-use community hub zone along Willoughby Road, illustrating the petition’s goals. In the foreground, a heavy-duty wooden games table with inlaid checkerboard patterns and smooth rounded edges sits on finely textured stone pavers. Behind it, a sheltered area with integrated bench seating and small side tables suggests an inviting place to eat or chat, while a nearby low climbing structure in modern sculptural shapes hints at play. Soft, bright midday light from a slightly overcast sky creates clean, neutral illumination with gentle shadows. Shot from a three-quarter angle with a moderate depth of field, the image feels professional, organized, and practical, highlighting specific, tangible design elements for a street that supports eating, playing, and connecting—without any human presence.
An inviting pedestrianized section of Willoughby Road at golden hour, seen in photographic realism. Neatly arranged outdoor cafe tables, empty but set with water glasses and simple white plates, line the brick pavement. Small planter boxes filled with native greenery define play and gathering zones, including a low timber platform with colorful chalk markings suggesting games. Warm late-afternoon sunlight washes the entire street, catching the soft texture of heritage shopfronts and casting long, gentle shadows. Shot at eye level with a wide lens to emphasize street-level human scale and depth, the mood is professional yet welcoming, suggesting a community space designed for eating, playing, and connecting without showing any people.
A bird’s-eye, photographic view of a redesigned Willoughby Road block transformed into a calm community plaza. In the center, a cluster of sturdy wooden picnic tables and built-in benches forms an eat-and-chat zone, while a nearby open area with painted hopscotch-style patterns and low, movable play blocks signals a playful space. Lush street trees in large planters create soft shade over light stone paving. Overcast, diffused daylight ensures even lighting and minimal harsh shadows. The composition is carefully balanced, with clear pathways and curb-free edges illustrating a pedestrian-priority environment. The atmosphere is orderly, professional, and optimistic, highlighting how the street can support shared meals, casual play, and neighborhood connection without any human figures.

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Contact us

Reach out about Crows Nest Place, volunteer, or connect us with local groups supporting a safer, people-first Willoughby Road.

Willoughby Road, Crows Nest NSW

Online anytime for enquiries