2011-2012 Annual Report - Full Version - PDF - Palmerston North ...

What happened in the yearSportsfields, Parks,Reserves and WalkwaysBoth the Parkcheck and Communitrak surveysshow a continuing high level of satisfaction in thecommunity with Parks and Recreation facilitiesand services. The Parks and Recreation Activity isvery diverse with a number of new capital projectsduring the year across the facilities. The mostsignificant of the capital works was the SkoglundPark pavilion project which involved building a newwell insulated timber framed facility with naturallighting away from the end of the street allowinggood views into the park. A new youth playgroundaimed at teenage children was built near the newpavilion. The theme of the playground is Parkourwhich is a physical discipline and non-competitivesport which focuses on balance and efficientmovement around obstacles. There are alsotraditional swings and a climbing wall nearby forthose who want a more relaxing play experience.Another component of the Recreation Hub facilities,Edwards Pit Park has seen progress throughout theyear as well with planting, drainage works alongthe top of the Tweed Street slope and ongoingplanting and weeding working bees throughoutthe year. Also within the Recreation Hub, workhas been completed to provide accessibility rampsaround the Vautier Park pavilion.The Linklater Block is being well used by thelocal community with the 2011 planting wellestablished. There is more pathway work andplanting planned for the reserve in 2012/13.Forestry harvesting continued at Arapuke ForestPark over the summer and subsequently theMountain Bike Club has created a number ofcustom built tracks in the newly harvested areas.These tracks will be a significant recreation assetto the City in future years as the new plantingdevelops around them. Further work will continuefollowing the next summer tree harvest.The walkway network was extended again duringthe year with new sections developed at LowerTitoki near Summerhill Drive, Schnell Wetlandin Kelvin Grove and some renewals work in theSpringdale Grove area.The riverside shared path sealing project hasprogressed with the section from the FitzherbertBridge through to Riverside Drive sealed withasphaltic concrete. The use of the shared path asa result has increased dramatically with a widerange of users on the path, from pedestrians anddog walkers through to children learning to ridebikes and road cyclists avoiding the traffic on theroads. The second part of this project is to extendthe shared path from the Fitzherbert Bridge toMaxwells Line. Initially this will be a lime chippathway three metres wide along the edge ofthe riverbank. The long term goal is to have acomplete off road circuit of the City that can bewalked or ridden on a bike.Another walkway project is the development of theshared path from Ashhurst to Palmerston North.The first section to be completed is the Ashhurst toRaukawa Road leg. Work in the 2011/12 year wasfocused on finalising the design and negotiatingwith landowners along this portion of theriverbank with these to be concluded in 2012/13 sothat physical works can then begin. Negotiationswill also continue with the landowners of the nextsection of shared path from Raukawa Road to TeMatai Road.Further work at the Fitzroy Street end of MemorialPark was completed during the year. The objectivewas twofold, firstly health and safety, and secondlyaesthetics. The bank at the Fitzroy Street endwas being undermined with a new crib wallerected which provides structural integrity butalso provides an aesthetic surface for plants to begrown over. The crib wall provided an opportunityfor a viewing platform into the park from theFitzroy Street level. The pathway down into thepark from Fitzroy Street has been improved andbetter handrails installed. Work will continue inMemorial Park over the next seven or eight years,incrementally renewing planting and physicalassets within the park. In the 2012/13 year thefocus will be on replacement of a tree damagedretaining wall and new planting alongside theduck pond.What the Council Does Leisure Parks and RecreationPalmerston North City Council Annual Report 2011/1275