PARKS FOR THE PEOPLE.

Auckland Star, Volume LVIII, Issue 234, 4 October 1927, Page 10

PARKS FOR THE PEOPLE.

VARIOUS RELIEF SCHEMES. INSPECTION BY COMMITTEE. STADIUM AT WESTERN SPRINGS. Commendable prcscience characterises (lie efforts of the Citizens' Unemployment Committee, which is favouring a policy of developing neglected open spaces that the City Council has acquired from time to time, at costs largely restricted to labour only. In acting thus, provision is being made for posterity—recreational areas for a vast and beautiful city to be—and at the same time, men who have fallen on lean times are being assisted to the fullest possible extent.

With the growth of the citizens' and independent unemployment funds, themes brought down to the committee tor consideration have grown in number and magnitude. Therefore, yesterday afternoon was devoted to investigating the merits and demerits of the various proposals, all of which are deserving of prosecution. Whether or not they will bear fruition rests largely with the citizens of Auckland and their generosity or otherwise in contributing towards the funds designed to meet the unemployment situation. It has to be remembered that, although the adoption of a particular scheme might appeal to the imagination of those who subscribe to the funds, it would probably be of more assistance if a number of smaller schemes in different localities were undertaken, thereby enabling work to be provided in suburbs where distress is most acute. The city engineer (Mr. W. E. Bush), in reporting to the committee upon what he regards are the major and minor works, draws attention to this fact. Play Area for Children. Improvements that have been commenced at Grey Lynn Park, between the present football ground and Williamson Avenue—where 40 men were set to work on levelling operations yesterday—come within the latter category. A halt was niadc here first by the inspection party, and they found men, previously denied the right to work, wielding picks and shovels, filling in a deep gully, preparatory to levelling and equipping the area with facilities for children. The cost of tli9 actual formation work, cxcavations, etc., has been set down at £2030. The Mayoress has undertaken to secure equipment for the area.

A major scheme, which offers great possibilities, has been, mapped out for council property between the Old Mill Road and Western Springs. Natural terraces, at present largely covered with noxious weeds, flank three sides of the area, on which it is intended to construct n stadium for Auckland, complete with cycling and athletic tracks (both concrete and cinder), cricket and football grounds. Excluding • buildings, the engineer concludes that the area, some 11 or 12 acres, can be prepared at a cost of £15,000. The principal items of expenditure are for excavations £4000 providing cycle tracks £1975, construction of approaches from main roads (served by trams and bus services) £2000, and terracing slopes and contingencies £3525. The provision made in this estimate will not interfere with the carrying out of levelling of an outer area between the great North Road and the arena, at an approximate cost of £9000 or £10,000, computed on the unemployed labour basis. In Walker Road, Point Chevalier, the council has acquired a further twelve acres on which there is room for five football and hockey grounds. The area is comparatively level already, and has also been drained in a minor degree. Mon will be started to develop the area to-morrow. Fifteen thousand yards of excavation and soil replacement costing £1375, additional drainage* £300, and grassing and fencing £450, ia all that is required to prepare the reserve for play next season.

A contrast in the nature of the foundations of Auckland was seen when the party stopped up at the Epsom reserve, where 50 men were employed levelling and drilling into the rock preparatory to blasting. The expenditure in an effort to provide the Epsom district with a breathing space for the present may be assumed to be £1200, but it will undoubtedly be one of the most costly jobs to complete, owing to the difficulties that beset the workmen. For all this, *the engineer confidently expects that a good impression will have been made on the area within five weeks. Roading Walatarua Park. Crossing to the Reqraera district the committee visited Waiatarua Park. The work involved in that locality is principally roading, and the possible lowering of the level of Lake St. John. Some members of the committee favour the pushing ahead of the latter project lather than the carrying out of roading at present. The council, however, lias a speeial fund "ear-marked"' for carryuig.out the proposed carriageway. Travelling into the city,, the relief works at the War Memorial Museum wore inspected, as also was a sloping area in-the Domain, overlooking Stanlev Street and Grafton Road, which it was suggested might be utilised as a playing area. The contours of the proIT y i. t W A r<i x ex^ mined > and it . was thought that perhaps a full-sized football area could be. laid out. The engineer is at present investigating the scheme, unci hopes to lay plans before the committee at an early date. All the schemes have much to commend them,-and they will-be discussed at MdaTLS? 6 "" 8 of th * «*■«*" •»;