The Te Mata Park Trust Board says its three new trustees are poised to "reinvigorate" the board and take the park forward.
In a statement released yesterday the board said it received a significant boost with the announcement of the volunteer trustees, which include solicitor Michael Bate, agricultural research specialist Ian Gold and business development specialist Mike Devonshire.
They will join the existing trustees to oversee improvements including new mountain bike tracks, public toilets, drinking water and improved signage.
"The park is a taonga for all people of Hawke's Bay and we are grateful to the Chambers family for this gift," Mr Bate said.
"I am looking forward to continuing the work of the trustees and helping address the many pressing needs the park faces - not only for improvement and development, but also its protection and day-to-day management."
Mr Devonshire said building a "sustainable model" for the park excited him, "particularly with the sometimes conflicting demands from the wide range of users and stakeholders."
Mr Gold believed the park must be managed to maintain its natural, wild beauty in the face of increased use by the public.
"It is this balance between use and preservation that the board needs to strike and achieve. Together we must ensure that our children and grandchildren can also enjoy and be proud of this truly unique place."
Trust chairman Bruno Chambers said, "It will be great to have the extra energy and skills that the three new members bring to the Board, especially with the challenges ahead."
He said the board still faces "significant difficulties" in securing sufficient funding to sustain the day-to-day operation of the park and the proposed development programme, particularly given the ever-increasing levels of use by Hawke's Bay residents and its popularity with tourists and visitors to the region.
"The Trust is extremely grateful for the enlightened support of the Hawke's Bay Regional Council in providing a base operational grant and capital funding to enable the first phase of project work to begin.
"We'd also like to thank the retiring board members for the enormous contribution they have made to the park over many years, including Jim Judd (30 years), David Sawers (6 years) and Mark Holder (12 years)."
■To view the details of the proposed improvements go to tematapark.co.nz.