Havelock North celebrates new park

Young riders enjoy the BMX track at the official opening of Romanes Park in Havelock North yesterday. Photo / Paul Taylor

A new 3ha park has opened in Havelock North, offering a smorgasbord of public facilities, including a BMX track, playground and football field.

Romanes Park, in Romanes Drive, was officially opened yesterday a year after work began on the site.

The park provides a 7000sq m community-funded BMX track, a major boon for Hawke's Bay BMX Club, which had been pushing for upgraded facilities for five years.

The track is open to the public.

The largest football club in Hawke's Bay, the Havelock North Wanderers Football Club, also has a new playing field as part of the reserve.

The park was named after former Havelock North mayor Harry Romanes, whose family funded a playground and adult fitness circuit for the park.

Hastings Mayor Lawrence Yule said Romanes Park would be "a focal point for many of Havelock North's young people, and I have no doubt that it will be very well used".

"It also provides plenty of space for play and exercise for other people from the community."

The Hastings District Council had made a "special effort" in the past four years to improve its input into parks in the district. It was also in the process of redeveloping the Havelock North Domain. After consulting with the community, the draft plan was ready for feedback.

"The domain has always been a fun place for families and children and we have tried to build on this."

The draft proposal included a new "urban skate plaza", a splash pad, an enhanced children's playground and a toilet block, as well as shaded and picnic areas. A splash pad is a water feature with ground nozzles that spray water upwards.

Mr Yule said the public was invited to provide feedback on the proposals until the end of June.

Later this month the council would also open a children's playground in Meissner Reserve in the Arataki subdivision.

"[The playground] has been designed to meet the needs of the many young families now living in this area, and we have included some quiet spaces and benches for those who do not want to run around and burn off some energy."