Town-planning issue resolved

Press, 26 May 1977, Page 10

Town-planning issue resolved

Development of Hansens Park in Opawa could start soon now that a town-plan-ning issue has been resolved. The City Council has decided to 'rejnove its 1968 “public open space” designation from about an acre of the land beside the Heathcote River, leaving more than 22 acres for eventual development into playing fields and walkways. The designation removal means that about nine acres of the former rubbish dump — now levelled into a grassed paddock where horses are grazed — will be available for a 40-section housing project. Proceeds from that project will be used to pay for development of the $200,000 park. In 1968, the entire area was shown as proposed open space. But before the district scheme became operative in 19”Ai the neighbour-

hood's recreation needs were' lt was found that; ithe area had a reasonable amount of open space. Some objectors opposed j ■the latest designation re-! jmoval from about an acre of I land on the river bank, but, ieven park officials said it! 'was a “toe” on the main! (section of reserve that! 'would be difficult to maintain. It had been retained in (the first designation removal ito make room for vehicle 'movements from a proposed bridge Connecting the park to the south side of the ! river. The bridge proposal has been dropped in the mean-' time in favour of a future; footbridge linking the park to Armstrong Avenue. ; A future walkway along! the river bank will extendi from Fifield Terrace to Ford Road. It will be protected by an esplanade reserve-; i