More than 1600 people have signed a petition calling for an empty pond in a Newcastle council park to be retained as a "roller rink".
The Frog Pond in Newcastle East's Foreshore Park, which was drained more than a year ago as part of a suite of water-saving measures the council implemented during the drought, has become a popular space for people using roller skates and scooters.
The size, sunken nature and smooth base of the facility makes it an ideal spot for those activities.
The surrounding grassed areas also allow for easy supervision of children and a convenient rest and picnic spot.
But the future of the pond, and skating area, is up in the air.
Newcastle council released a concept design last month as part of the development a master plan to overhaul the park.
The plan did not retain the Frog Pond.
That sparked concern among users of the space and led to the online petition.
Posted on website Change.org by a group called Roller Skaters of Newcastle, the petition outlines a range of benefits the facility offers.
"The loss of the pond will impact the growing population looking to improve health and wellbeing by having a safe location to develop skills," it says.
"Parents will lose the safest place for young children to roll about with easy supervision and containment away from vehicles or higher risks posed at skateparks.
"Friends and families will lose the relaxation and enjoyment gained from watching others skating while resting and picnicking on the surrounding lawn.
"Social sporting groups such as Roller Skaters of Newcastle will lose an ideal all-level meet up location in which to participate and build community cohesion. The City of Newcastle will lose a unique recreational space delighting locals and visitors alike."
A council spokeswoman said the recently exhibited plans were a concept only and feedback would help inform potential changes.
"City of Newcastle welcomes the community's interest in the future plans for Foreshore Park and called for people to have their say on ... concept designs as part of a consultation period which ran between February 16 and March 5," she said.
"The goal of the Foreshore Park Masterplan is to become an inclusive space that will cater for the broad needs of the community including a scooter and skater friendly design which also facilitates other small-wheeled modes of transport including prams, wheelchairs and walkers.
"[Council] is in the process of reviewing the feedback from the recent consultation and will explore how the community's needs can be incorporated into the park or surrounding precinct."
Frequent park visitor Emma Cummings said hordes of children and adults had skated in the pond this past year.
"There is already an abundance of grassed space in the park which is frequently unoccupied, and while I typically applaud all enhancements to green spaces in Newcastle, this particular spot seems excellent as is; being a traffic free, flat, enclosed and wheelchair-accessible space," she said.
