Ferry mead Park Planned

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31069, 26 May 1966, Page 14

Ferry mead Park Planned

Plans for the development of the historic Ferrymead property were taken further last night when the Ferrymead Historic Park Committee was founded.

The function of the committee will be to take responsibility for correlating the activities of interested bodies actively engaged in the development of the park and to guide the development of it and the surrounding areas under the jurisdiction of the various interested bodies. The meeting, at which the steering committee was formed, was attended by representatives of the National Historic Places Trust, the Heathcote County Council, the Tramways Historical Society, the Railways and Locomotive Society, the Association of Friends of the Museum of Science and Industry, the Pil-

grims and Early Settlers’ Association, the Canterbury Museum and the Christchurch Civic Trust.

The Ferrymead development plan prepared by the Christchurch Junior Chamber was adopted in principle at the meeting. The plan has also been adopted in principle by the Heathcote County Council.

Representatives of each organisation spoke in support of the development scheme and promised assistance. Fund raising will be a joint venture of the Junior Chamber and the Museum of Science and Industry. Delegates to last evening’s meeting report to their organisations, each of which will appoint a representative to sit on the steering committee.

Although the Heathcote County Council had approved the plan, Mr J. S. Scott, its representative at the meeting, suggested that as council

funds were limited “haste should be made slowly.” Explaining the need for the formation of the steering committee, the chairman of the meeting (Mr G. L. Evans) said that although the Junior Chamber had prepared the Ferrymead plan as a twentyfirst anniversary project they were not actively concerned with the plan’s execution although they would take a continuing interest in it.

A recommendation was made to the steering committee that a professional fundraiser in the North Island be approached. The development plan calls for the preservation of the historic nature of the Ferry'mead site by the reinstatement of an early working railway and the operation of restored trams.

The railway station and other buildings and structures if built in the early period style would help to preserve the atmosphere of early Can-

terbury. As a recreational park the area could be developed with lawns and trees, picnic areas and other recreational activities. The running of trams and the railway was expected to be a major attraction.

It is considered that the operation of a small ferry boat in conjunction with a round trip on the trams and train could make a journey of interest. Efforts to obtain an old scow or other ship which could be anchored off shore had not been successful. Some data on early ships using Fenymead had been obtained. A children’s play area is planned with a paddling pool fed by a warm spring. Tests have shown that the water is of good quality although high in chloride content.

A parking proposal to cater for the initial development of the area for at least five years has been drawn up. The whole scheme is planned for three years.