The park was an $100,000 election commitment for the Giralang community, set to be the centrepiece of the suburb until the decade-long shops saga is resolved.

Labor MLA Suzanne Orr, who has an urban planning background, helped lead the community-focused design process.

It differed from previous consultation processes in that the community was asked to have their say before any initial designs were put in place. The design will then go through the normal community consultation process.

Ms Orr said she was "given rope" to talk to her community about what they wanted in a park, instead of working with preconceived ideas of what it should be.

Through online surveys, door knocking and pop-up stalls at the proposed site next to the primary school, the community was able to have their say from the outset.

"People were actually pretty excited and really chuffed," Ms Orr said.

She discovered people didn't want a playground as such, but they wanted play opportunities for children within a space that was for all age groups.

Every age group wanted seating, some wanted spaces for fitness activities and a few people suggested a BMX track.

The brief was presented to second-year University of Canberra landscape architect and industrial design students, who were given "a blank canvas and a whole heap of community ideas" to work with.

The winning design was presented to the community on Saturday to make sure it's what they expected.

"I've been pleasantly surprised with how it's gone," Ms Orr said of the community-led design process.

"There is potential to explore and update the way we do things, and find things where people can take ownership.

"The tried and tested consultation methods [have been in place] for a long time. The sense I get is people are now asking for a little bit more, we need to find what that little bit more is."

Belconnen Community Council chair Glen Hyde said having a shared community facility was always a good thing.

"Giralang has gone through a tough time over the last decade," Mr Hyde said.

"I think this is something that will be welcomed by the community, but most importantly it's a step in the right direction for the government to just do something positive for Giralang."

"I would absolutely hope that urban and community renewal starts with a centrepiece like this."