UPDATE! 5th August 2019 – the submissions to WCC closed today. The Newtown Residents’ Association made a submission recommending that the Playground be moved as little as possible, and the open play space should be retained. See below!

A message from Wellington City Council:
“We’re upgrading the play area at Carrara Park and we’d like your feedback!
 
The upgrade will focus on relocating the playground area and upgrading the play equipment. We need to move the playground away from the existing location because the play equipment is being damaged by the roots of the Norfolk Island pine tree.
 
Construction is due to start in February/March 2020.
 
Before we get started, we’re gathering feedback and suggestions from existing and potential users of the park. This will help to ensure the new facilities meet the needs of the local community.
 
For more information on the proposed upgrade go to www.wellington.govt.nz/carrara-park 
(Please note that the map is indicative. It is intended as a starting point for discussion, and does not necessarily represent the final design).
 
How you can get involved
•             Have your say by completing our feedback survey by 5pm Monday 5 August 2019
•             Come to our drop-in session at Newtown Market (St Anne’s Hall ) on Saturday 27 July, 9am-12pm”

Some Newtown Residents’ Association members, and other local residents. have had preliminary meetings with Sam Malaulau, the WCC Playground Designer, and Jared Corston, the WCC Newtown Liaison Officer. We have clarified that no decisions have been made at this stage, and the map that you will see if you do the survey is just a conversation starter.  What we do know is that some of the existing playground equipment doesn’t meet current safety standards, and the playground does need to be moved enough to get away from the Norfolk pine roots. Apart from this, all possibilities can be considered.

There is a long history to the Park and its design. See here for an outline of the history, and a discussion of the present and future. The Newtown Residents’ Association was closely involved with the establishment of the Park, and we are very interested in its future. We are looking forward to many more planning meetings as the future design is decided.