NAPIER PARKS

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XXVI, Issue 144, 3 June 1936, Page 1

NAPIER PARKS

Proposed Reconditioning Work REPORT TO COUNCIL Reports upon the progress made in reconditioning and improving the principal parks of Napier were made to the Borough Council on Monday by Mr C. W. Corner, superintendent of Borough reserves. A recommendation was also made that a supply of Port Albert soil should be procured for use upon cricket pitches on Nelson Park. Mr Corner reported:—

McLean Park has received a greater amount of attention than any other reserve during the past year. At the completion of the winter sports season the park was in a deplorable condition and it was decided to improve it by turfing, topdressing, seeding, manuring, etc. and also to lay down a special wicket in the centre of the park, rnu park responded in no uncertain manner to the treatment received, and although the wicket was not sufficiently matured for the M.C.C. match, for future representative matches it should work up satisfactorily. Over 300 cubic yards of soil were used, one ton of fertilisers and 2001 b. of seed. Except for the wicket this work was not included in the estimates.

New roadways were formed on the eastern side of the park leading to both stands. The turf which was lifted from the roadways was relaid on the lowest worn-out depressions of the football grounds and the remainder was used for turfing a portion of tho newly-formed bank. The area directly in front of the new memorial gates entrance was remodelled. At a later stage turf was purchased at a nominal cost from the Hospital Board, and with this material and open-air grass stand was practically completed. It would be a great improvement to the park if a grass bank were formed on the southern end to balance the northern. Turf was also lifted from the eastern end of the park for tho new eolonnaoa lawn.

Nelson Park is our main, recreation area, and here we cater for all classes of sport. On account of the wet winter the insufficient drainage, and the uneven nature of the surface the oval suffered considerable damage during the winter sports season, which necessitated considerable reconditioning before the grounds were fit for cricket. Approximately 200 cubic yards of soil for top-dressing were used for levelling lone, and in addition over a ton of fertilisers and 300 lb of grass seed were sown. Considering the season, tho ground stood up to the playing conditions satisfactorily. The soil which was used for top-dressing the wickets has not proved altogether a success. All towns throughout New Zealand are finding great difficulty in procuring suitable material. Port Albert soil appears to be giving great satisfaction in the Auckland province, and I would like to see a quantity of this procured for our Napier wickets. A considerable amount ef labour was expended in preparing a special wicket for the M.C.C. v. Hawke’s Bay match, but the heavy deluge on the opening day rendered the wicket unsuitable for play.