Sporting walk idea on hold

Press, 20 December 1988, Page 1

Sporting walk idea on hold

By

KAY FORRESTER

The controversy surrounding the Christchurch City Council’s sports walk of fame proposal for Queen Elizabeth II Park has sent the idea back to the council drawing board. The recommendation from the parks and recreation committee for the wall was withdrawn from last evening’s council agenda. Instead the committee will discuss the idea further at its February meeting. The walk, initiated by Cr David Cox a year ago, drew an angry reaction from some sportsmen and women after the committee decided those honoured in it

should be recognised for prowess from this year. That would have left out those, for instance, who won medals at the Commonwealth Games of 1974, for which the park was completed. Council opinion on whether the walk should include earlier deeds and those of New Zealanders from outside Canterbury was divided. Public opinion seemed strongly in favour of the inclusion of earlier deeds, notably those of the medallists of 1974. Now the committee chairman, Cr Clive Cotton, has decided that the sports walk should be further debated by his committee. On that at least councillors are generally agreed.