The future of Point Cook’s Pop Up Park is under threat, but locals are determined to save the space that has become a beating heart of community life, home to multicultural celebrations including its much-loved Greek Festival.
“Every year the Greek Festival gets bigger and better,” says local resident and organiser Kaliope Vasilopoulos, who has lived in Point Cook for 23 years.
“It’s incredible seeing people from all backgrounds dancing to Greek music, trying loukoumades for the first time, and learning about our culture. For me, it shows the true spirit of Point Cook. Diverse, welcoming, and connected.”
Since its creation in 2018, the Pop Up Park has drawn more than 640,000 visitors and generated over $11 million in benefits for local traders. From SpringFest to Kaleidoscope, and from Diwali to Eid, Pasifika to Greek, the park has become a stage for the suburb’s remarkable diversity.
Federal MP Tim Watts recently delivered a heartfelt speech in Parliament backing the park, while State MP Mathew Hilakari has also thrown his support behind the campaign. Wyndham Council is now running consultations and urging residents to complete its online survey before September 15.
“It all comes down to the numbers,” Vasilopoulos tells Neos Kosmos. “Council will be swayed by the community voice, so getting feedback is critical. Everyone who loves this park needs to participate.”
Festivals and identity
The Pop Up Park‘s festivals have helped reshape Point Cook’s cultural identity.
“Point Cook is the most culturally diverse suburb in Victoria, if not Australia. You can see that just by walking through the park on any weekend. It’s where we celebrate who we are, whether it’s Greek, Indian, Filipino, African, or Irish and where everyone can share music, food, and traditions together.”
During COVID, the park became a lifeline, offering an outdoor venue where locals could connect safely despite strict lockdowns. Now, it continues to attract more than 100,000 people each year, with 83 per cent spending money in nearby businesses.
Traders and families benefit
Local businesses and families have voiced strong support for keeping the park. One trader remarked during a kids’ festival: “We have made more money today than in the past 12 months.” Parents and grandparents alike praise the space as safe, welcoming, and unique.
“It’s not just an event space,” Vasilopoulos explains.
“It’s somewhere you can bring your kids to play safely, catch up with friends, or share a meal outdoors. Without it, Point Cook risks becoming just another commuter suburb.”
What’s at stake
If the road is reopened, campaigners warn, the park will lose its vibrancy and the dining strip will revert to a car park. “We lose culture, we lose connection, and we lose the special character that makes Point Cook different,” Vasilopoulos says.
Vasilopoulos believes saving the park is just the beginning. “We could have year-round markets, winter activities, live music, kids’ art workshops—the possibilities are endless. Look at Yarraville and Altona. Point Cook can be that, but with the richness of all our cultures celebrated side by side.”
For now, though, the priority is mobilising voices before the consultation deadline.
“I’d encourage everyone.. Greeks, migrants, families, anyone who values community spaces, to fill in the Council survey,” Vasilopoulos urges.
“This is the only way we can save what we’ve built here together.”
