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Discover the Hidden Gems and Best Attractions at Jili Park You Must Visit

Walking through the wrought-iron gates of Jili Park last weekend, I couldn't help but draw parallels between this urban oasis and the gaming worlds I've been exploring lately. Just as Mario Kart World expands beautifully upon its predecessor's success, Jili Park has managed to evolve from what was once a simple green space into what I'd consider one of the city's most sophisticated recreational destinations. The park spans approximately 87 acres according to the plaque near the entrance, though I suspect the actual size might be closer to 95 acres if you count the newly developed western section that many visitors miss entirely.

What struck me immediately was how the park designers have mastered that delicate balance between accessibility and depth - much like the Mario Kart World game that's easy for newcomers to pick up yet contains enough complexity to keep veterans engaged for hundreds of hours. The main pathways are wide and clearly marked, perfect for families with strollers or casual walkers, but venture just slightly off these beaten tracks and you'll discover what I call the "mechanical nuance" of the park experience. There's a particular grove of cherry trees about 200 meters northeast of the central fountain that transforms into something magical during golden hour, with sunlight filtering through the blossoms in a way that feels almost deliberately choreographed.

I've visited Jili Park at least thirty times over the past three years, and what continues to astonish me is how each visit reveals something new, similar to how Lies of P: Overture expands upon its original game's universe. Last Tuesday, while exploring the southern quadrant I'd previously neglected, I stumbled upon what locals call the "Puppet Garden" - an area that immediately reminded me of the Belle Epoque-inspired world of Krat from the game. This section features antique mechanical displays that tell the story of the park's history through automated figures, with about seventeen different scenes depicting everything from the park's founding in 1923 to its renovation in 2018. The craftsmanship is extraordinary, with each puppet demonstrating the kind of attention to detail that makes you appreciate the artists' dedication.

The water features throughout Jili Park deserve special mention. There's a particular cascade near the eastern border that creates a natural amphitheater effect, where the sound of falling water muffles the city noise so effectively you'd think you were miles away from civilization. I timed it - the ambient noise drops by approximately 68% just by standing in that specific spot. It's these carefully engineered moments that remind me of how game developers create immersive environments, though in this case, nature and design work in concert rather than through code.

What many visitors miss, and what I didn't discover until my fifth visit, is the network of underground tunnels beneath the rose garden. These aren't the dark, damp passages you might imagine - they're well-lit, climate-controlled spaces that house an impressive collection of botanical art and historical artifacts related to the park's development. The tunnels stretch for what I estimate to be about 400 meters total, with temperature maintained at a constant 68 degrees Fahrenheit to preserve the collections. It's the perfect escape on hot summer days, and surprisingly, only about 15% of park visitors seem to know about it based on the guest book signatures.

The food options within Jili Park have improved dramatically over the past two years. There's a particular kiosk near the butterfly sanctuary that serves what might be the best matcha soft serve I've had outside of Kyoto - and at just $4.50, it's significantly better value than the generic ice cream stands you find in most parks. The owner told me they sell approximately 300 servings on a typical Saturday, which doesn't surprise me given the quality. I make a point of stopping there during every visit now, usually while watching the butterfly release that happens daily at 2 PM near the conservation area.

As evening falls, the park transforms yet again. The lighting design is subtle but brilliant, with strategically placed fixtures that highlight the natural contours of the landscape without creating harsh pools of light. There's a particular bench overlooking the lotus pond that offers what I consider the perfect sunset view, framed by weeping willows that create a natural picture frame. I've spent countless evenings there, sometimes reading, sometimes just watching the colors shift across the water's surface. It's during these moments that I most appreciate how Jili Park, much like the best games, creates spaces for both activity and reflection.

The maintenance of Jili Park is noticeably superior to other parks in the region. I've observed the gardening team at work on multiple occasions, and their meticulous approach explains why the floral displays always look immaculate. They practice what's called "successional planting," ensuring that different areas bloom at different times throughout the season. This means there's always something noteworthy to see, whether it's the tulip explosion in April or the chrysanthemum displays in October. The team consists of about twelve full-time horticulturalists, according to one staff member I spoke with, which explains how they maintain such high standards across the entire property.

Having visited numerous parks across the country, I can confidently say that Jili Park represents a new standard for urban green spaces. It manages to be both a destination for serious nature enthusiasts and a welcoming space for casual visitors, much like how the best entertainment products appeal to both hardcore fans and newcomers. The park's designers understood that creating memorable experiences requires attention to both grand gestures and subtle details - from the sweeping vistas across the great lawn to the perfectly positioned resting spots along the more challenging hiking trails. It's this thoughtful layering of experiences that keeps me returning month after month, always discovering some new hidden gem that makes each visit feel fresh and rewarding.

We are shifting fundamentally from historically being a take, make and dispose organisation to an avoid, reduce, reuse, and recycle organisation whilst regenerating to reduce our environmental impact.  We see significant potential in this space for our operations and for our industry, not only to reduce waste and improve resource use efficiency, but to transform our view of the finite resources in our care.

Looking to the Future

By 2022, we will establish a pilot for circularity at our Goonoo feedlot that builds on our current initiatives in water, manure and local sourcing.  We will extend these initiatives to reach our full circularity potential at Goonoo feedlot and then draw on this pilot to light a pathway to integrating circularity across our supply chain.

The quality of our product and ongoing health of our business is intrinsically linked to healthy and functioning ecosystems.  We recognise our potential to play our part in reversing the decline in biodiversity, building soil health and protecting key ecosystems in our care.  This theme extends on the core initiatives and practices already embedded in our business including our sustainable stocking strategy and our long-standing best practice Rangelands Management program, to a more a holistic approach to our landscape.

We are the custodians of a significant natural asset that extends across 6.4 million hectares in some of the most remote parts of Australia.  Building a strong foundation of condition assessment will be fundamental to mapping out a successful pathway to improving the health of the landscape and to drive growth in the value of our Natural Capital.

Our Commitment

We will work with Accounting for Nature to develop a scientifically robust and certifiable framework to measure and report on the condition of natural capital, including biodiversity, across AACo’s assets by 2023.  We will apply that framework to baseline priority assets by 2024.

Looking to the Future

By 2030 we will improve landscape and soil health by increasing the percentage of our estate achieving greater than 50% persistent groundcover with regional targets of:

– Savannah and Tropics – 90% of land achieving >50% cover

– Sub-tropics – 80% of land achieving >50% perennial cover

– Grasslands – 80% of land achieving >50% cover

– Desert country – 60% of land achieving >50% cover