LOCAL NEWS
Ponsonby Park - APRIL UPDATE By the time you read this update, Council’s consultation for the 2022-2023 budget will have been completed. But we already have some good news! The (volunteer) community-led design group is delighted Council has committed to; “… start progressing stage one at 254 Ponsonby Road. This will include budget for detailed design and community engagement in 2022/2023 being made available two years earlier than previously communicated, followed by consent and construction from 2023/2024 onwards.”
It will also be:
This is great news for the community which has shown significant and sustained engagement for the new civic space. It was back in 2017, through a physical and online virtual exhibition, that the LandLAB Park+ concept design was chosen for the development.
· a place for local and international tourists to pause and recharge before experiencing more of what Ponsonby has to offer.
The Park+ design for Ponsonby Park will be an urban oasis that will be good for the people, good for the environment, and good for Auckland.
· a place to learn to ride a bike, to get married, to rest and relax, or to be energised and entertained.
It will: · be an urban space for events, the Arts, relaxation, and building connections with people. · protect our harbours by treating and mitigating stormwater run-off. · be an exemplar of sustainable development that includes rain gardens, green walls, and a green roof. This will encourage inner-city bio-diversity and become part of the pollinator pathway network.
· a place for Matariki, Diwali, and other cultural celebrations and festivals. · a place for our hospitality and retail workforce to enjoy a break or to have their lunch.
· a place for a farmers’ or artists’ market.
In short, it will be a place of diversity and inclusion, where EVERYONE is welcome. The development of Ponsonby Park, the new civic space at 254 Ponsonby Road, will be underway from 1 July 2022. This is now only three months away. The CLD group is looking forward to continuing our work and being part of the realisation of Stage One of the development. Ponsonby Park - Bring it on! For further information please see our www.254ponsonbyrd.org.nz
· mitigate the impacts of climate change by providing shade and carbon sequestration.
36 PONSONBY NEWS+ April 2022
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