CITY PARKS

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 84, 30 June 1927, Page 3

CITY PARKS

TOUR OF INSPECTION MANY IMPROVEMENTS £IOO,OOO LOAN MOOTED Quite a new departure was made by one of the City Council committees yesterday, when Cr. F. W H. Brinsden, chairman of the Harks Committee, gave representatives ot the various sports bodies an opportunity to see some of the work being carried out. AT the invitation of the committee representatives of Rugby, League tennis, hockey, basketball, cricket and athletics motored round some 12 of the play areas of the city, and the proposals regarding these were explained by Cr. Brinsden. The members of the party were surprised at the amount being done, and expressed, in no uncertain terms, their appreciation of the action of the committee. £IOO,OOO LOAN During the course of the tour Cr. Brinsden said that the city had not kept up with the demand for recreation areas, and the only thing he could see to remedy the position would be to raise a £IOO,OOO loan for preparing areas at present not in use, and for adding to the area available. He also commented that the city was supporting practically tfce whole burden of playing areas, while the suburban bodies used them. The party first visited the Domain, where it is proposed to fill in the rough ground between the winter garden and the hospital, remove the huts, and the old iron fence and. sheds on the north side of the Domain, levelling the area out so that the present flat area of the Domain will extend right through to the lake. About ten tennis courts may be put down here. Other alterations to the Domain include the cutting away -of portion of the tree-covered point on the eastern side. A GROUND FOR GIRLS An area of some acres on the city side of Mount Hobson, which it is proposed to prepare for “ladies only,” was inspected, also the ground adjoining Remuera School.

It is hoped to spend ,about £SOO to £6OO with good results on the waste area under the old Mount Eden mill at Epsom, providing a low level park and work for unemployed at the same time.

Grey Lynn Domain, where a fine park was made last year over & useless valley, and Western Springs, where the two temporary grounds were put in use for this season, and which will be put in proper order for next year, were next visited, followed by Point Chevalier reserve, where about 12 acres, providing room for live football grounds, and other areas are being prepared. The drain-layers will start work on the ground this week. Cr. Brinsden stated that it was hoped to remove the unsightly buildings on the actual Point Chevalier very shortly. Cox’s Creek and Point Erin Park, and several other localities, were also visited.

At the conclusion of the tour Messrs. J. B. Lusk, H. Frost, J. E. Hamill, W. A. Gray and Carlton Hay expressed their appreciation to Crs. Brinsden, Phelan, Paterson and Alice Hasten, who accompanied the party. SMALL BUT PLENTY

They particularly stressed the necessity for areas being small, plenty and well scattered for preference, so that they did not become merely “Saturday afternooners,” but offered facility for trtaining and recreation throughout the week. It was also suggested that no better time would occur than the present to develop the grounds. With regard to the £IOO,OOO loan proposal, Mr. Lusk said that if a feasible scheme was brought forward it should receive a great measure of support from the ratepayers.