A park linking two of Whangarei's most popular public facilities will be built this summer, allowing easy access between Okara Shopping Centre and the Hatea Loop walkway.
A Port Rd building which formerly housed H&H Marine Engineering is being demolished to make way for the city's new 900sq m park. Whangarei District Council bought the site in 2013 in preparation for the $425,000 project, which would link the city's shared path/cycleway network to the popular Okara complex, which is privately owned and managed.
WDC landscape architect Tracey Moore designed the space and said it would encourage people visiting one of the "uglier" parts of town into exploring an attractive recreation area.
"Unfortunately, for a lot of people travelling north, [Okara] seems to be all they see of Whangarei. Once we break through [the Port Rd buildings] people should be drawn through towards The Loop a little bit more," she said.