ANDERSON PARK

Evening Post, Volume CXIII, Issue 11, 14 January 1932, Page 13

ANDERSON PARK

USEFUL EXTENSION

WINTER RELIEF JOB

ANOTHER SOCCER AREA

Anderson Park, which owes its existence to a relief loan of tho past, is now being further made available for sports purposes by an extension, on which 41 unemployed relief workers are now engaged. Some tinio ago the Sheep Owners' Association donated money for work for seamen, and a number of stewards and others were employed on the big mound above the children's playground, whero they made little impression. It is at this spot that tho work has been commenced this time, but it is likely to go much further; indeed, if all goes well this is one of the larger works scltcted by the City Couucil to be carried on through the winter. It could employ 100 men for six months.

What is being aimed at, and what will be carried but, if funds and -other circumstances permit, is the filling in of "the big gully to the south of the present park, to make: another full, sized Soccer ground. The big mound' is conveniently situated almost beside the deepest part of the gully, where some forty feet have to be filled, and the work is being carried out by moans of tram lines and trucks, the face being worked down in terraces, and the spoil having only a short distance to be run to the tip. There is a great deal more ground in the knoll than will bo needed to 'fill in the hole, and probably only a small part of the. knob will be used for. this purpose, the terracing of the gully further back to provide seating accommodation supplying the remainder. The knob will thereafter be rounded and made more sightly. The children's playground may have to be moved to take in sufficient space for. the new ground, but if so it will probably be placed in more pleasant surroundings behind the now ground on the edge of the Botanical Gardens. CITY'S COMMITMENTS. ': Anderson Park provides two Soccer grounds at present, but its shape leaves a good deal to be desired. The slip at the northern, corner into Sydney street lias at present cut away a little of th^ valuable ground, until it is walled up, and tho proposed extension will make the park much more comfortable for spgrts and public. There are many advantages in this work from tho city's point of view. In the first place, when the actual relief work, is finished,, all that the city will be committed to to complete the park for its purpose will be the sowing and fencing. ' In many of the relief jobs where roading, etc., is done, there is a definite commitment in future years to metal, channel, and kerb, and all the roads being formed, even though their completion for traffic may bo held over for years, will have to be maintained free of weeds, and thus will cost something. The situation of the increased playing accommodation is most central. The park is within easy distance of Salamanca road, Bolton street, and Tinakori road,1 and it.is only some six minutes' walk from the city. A natural seating amphitheatre will be formed by the terraces round the new ground, and: with the of native bush it will be one of the most attractive playing areas of the city. Adjacent to the Gardens, its maintenance will be convenient to the reserves staff.