CENTRAL PARK

Dominion, Volume 29, Issue 133, 29 February 1936, Page 6

CENTRAL PARK

Ideal Playground in the Making EARLY USE POSSIBLE AYelllugtou has a precious possession in the new play area created on the eastern side of Central I’ark, just atthe foot of tl'u Brooklyn hill. Originnlly this park was a patch of bare billside, marked only by goat tracks, but tlie place lias become' beautifully wooded, with good trucks, an artistic garden lay-out Inside the main entrance, and now this flue two acres aud a quarter of Hat .playground.

A start was made to plant this area about 25 years ago, when Mr. Glen was director of parks and reserves. To-day the back slopes are covered with bluegums, acacias, birches and ferns, some from 20 to 30 feet iu height. Those little gullies between the spurs are.sylvan dells of special loveliness.

The playing area, the surface of which lias yet to be provided, has been created by making a Bradford rubbish lip out of a big depression. In three years about 14,00(1 tons of rubbish has been deposited in tills area, raising the level, on the average, some 15 feet. Ur. J. Burns (chairman) and the members ot the reserves committee of the City Council, accompanied by Mr. J. G. MaeKenzie (Director of Parks and Reserves), visited Central Park this week to gain an intimate knowledge of the ground, and to determine how it shall be utilised. A suggestion was inade .by Ur. 51. F. Luekie a few days ago that a larger area would be secured If the entire level of the ground were raised another 10 feet. Councillors who visited the park were not inclined to favour that view. They considered that .the area would not be substantially increased by raising the level as proposed, while, If that were done, the playing area would not be so sheltered as It is to-day;' in addition to which it would mean delaying the use of the ground for another three or four years. The director of parks favoured topdressing the ground as it is, and preserving its natural contours. He said the ground was ample for a children’s play-area, for picnics, school sports, aud might be made available for cricket on Saturday (though some of the boundaries would have to be nearer the wicket than is usually the case). This view was favoured by most of the members of the committee, and the council will probably be asked to make provision to that end in the estimates. There are already some heaps of soil on tbe spot. If the proposal is approved, the work will be put in hand during the winter, aud the ground will probably be wade available to the public next summer.

It was recalled that the money which was to have been expended on a sports ground iu Central Park- was raised by the promotion of two "queen” carnivals, the proceeds of which were handed over to the City Council. That money, it seems, was devoted to the Basin Reserve and elsewhere, so that the original intention was not carried out. The plan envisaged a sports ground from four to five acres. In, extent, involving much excavation and filling. The war intervened. However, a very attractive sheltered aud central playground is being provided—a ground wljich should be a boon to the people of the district. It is the first 'Wellington playground to be developed out of a Bradford tip (one in which the rubbish deposited is covered at once with a layer of spoil). This method of providing parks, public gardens anil playgrounds has become common all over England. Under the system no tip becomes a nuisance as the city refuse soon amalgamates with tho spoil, aud makes perfectly good sweet earth. The process may be seen at Chaytor Street, where a deep ravine is being filled on Bradford lines. There are also other sites on the Brooklyn and ~Salamanca Roads, which lend themselves to the new form of reclamation.