Trust needs $60,000 to freehold park

Press, 21 July 1986, Page 27

Trust needs $60,000 to freehold park

Although the Port Hills Appeal Committee of the Christchurch Civic Trust took possession of the 236 ha Mount Vernon block of land on the Port Hills in January last year, the committee’s fund-rais-ing efforts had not ended.

The sum of $66,000 is urgently needed to freehold Mount Vernon Park and this week the appeal committee is publicising what it hopes will be the final phase of its fundraising campaign.

A treasure hunt and family day were to be held at Mount Vernon yesterday, and several Christchurch schools will hold fund-raising activities for the appeal. On Friday, pupils of Villa ,Maria and St Thomas of Canterbury colleges will have 100,000 mystery envelopes to sell in the city.

The Christchurch business community will be asked to help freehold this community asset, and

tramping clubs will be approached for assistance. The chairman of the appeal committee, Mr Barry Rich, says both these groups have helped the committee generously in the past, and it is hoped that they will do so again for this final effort

Many people do not realise that the full amount needed to pur-

chase the block has not yet been raised. "The public perception that Mount Vernon Park has already been paid for is a problem,” says Mr Rich. Another common public misconception is that the land which comprises the Mount Vernon block was always open to the public and that the purchase has changed nothing. “What

are you buying that for? We can go there whenever we like, anyway,” is a common response, according to Mr Rich. In fact, the land was in private ownership, and the only way to guarantee the people of Christchurch continuing access to this open space so close I to the city was to buy it, | ensuring it would never j

be sold for redevelopment The Mount Vernon Park will provide a magnificent outdoor recreation area only skm from the city centre. So far, the public’s response to the renewed appeal for funds has been

encouraging, according to Mr Rich, and the committee is optimistic that this week’s effort will meet with success. > Donations can be sent to the appeal, using the coupon below. Donations of $5 or more are tax deductible.