MOUNT VERNON APPEAL

Press, 13 November 1985, Page 33

MOUNT VERNON APPEAL

A final fund-raising effort and a last round of donations still needed

The Christchurch Civic Trust Appeal to raise money for Mount Vernon Park is in its final stages. The appeal for the 236hectare block reached its climax about this time last year, but a final effort and a last round of donations is still needed to reach the price.

The trust’s Port Hills Appeal Committee had to raise at least half the purchase price of ?380,000 by early November last year, and although the purchase of Mount Vernon Park was made by agreement earlier this year, outstanding payments remain to be completed.

The committee’s chairman, Mr Barry Rich, says, “I believe many people are of the opinion that we have all the funds we need, but this is not .correct.

“The park trust and its management committee are ready to take on the administration of Mount Vernon Park for the people of Canterbury, and we must ensure that fund raising is

completed speedily,” said Mr Rich.

“We appeal to all Canterbury people, organisations and businesses to give to the appeal now. Many have already done so, generously, but further assistance is essential.”

Donations are “tax-de-ductible” and may be in the form of pledges or gifts over two or more years. Those of $5 and up to $lOO are recognised by a numbered “Certificate of Land Title.”

Donors may also “purchase” a larger area of land by giving more than $lOO. For such a donation, the giver receives a personalised “Certificate of Purchase,” that is hand signed, inscribed with his name in elegant printing, and suitable for framing. To encourage sponsorship, the trust has also proposed to build a stone seat near the top of the Rapaki Track. In effect, this will mark an entrance to the park, and it will feature bronze plaques

with the names of the principal donors. Fund-raising activities currently being planned include a bus tour of five outstanding Christchurch gardens on Saturday, December 7. Tickets for this cost $l5 and can be obtained by ringing either of two telephone numbers: 66-246 or 485-319. Other methods of fundraising include Mount Vernon badges which will be sold from a display stand at the Christchurch A. and P. Show, a wine and cheese evening, and a mystery envelope appeal. The required sum of $380,000 is modest, in the sense that it is little more than $1 a head for the population of the Christchurch urban area, and it is a realistic target even in difficult financial times. With the Heathcote County Council’s adjoining Bowenvale block and other reserve land, the Mount Vernon Park provides a continuous reserve from the Rapaki Track to Victoria Park.

The Port Hills are so much a part of the city’s perspective and panorama that protection of this section of hillside from building development will take on an importance only guessed at by the present-

day inhabitants of Christchurch.

Future generations are likely to be as grateful for the creation of this park as the present citizens are for the vision of those responsible for creating the parks

and reserves within the built-up area of “greater Christchurch.”

The popularity of walks on the Port Hills, demonstrable on any fine week-end, shows the demand for a significant public reserve on

terrain that is different, in- < teresting, and readily acces-: sible to those who must spend their working week in the city, down on the flat Donations in support of the appeal can be made at any branch of the Trustee-; bank Canterbury. : .