Largest sports park revealed

A major plan for the development of Park Island sports and recreation park over the next 20 years has been approved by Napier's city services committee.

The plan, unveiled at a meeting yesterday, creates "hubs" from current and new fields and facilities, doubling the the Tremain Field rugby arena to four playing fields, relocating Napier Pirates Rugby and Sports Club from Tamatea, allocating space for a rugby union high performance centre, and creating new tennis courts, a small netball area, a third artificial hockey turf, and a grass softball diamond.

They are among proposals in a plan lauded yesterday by councillors by the council as part of its long-term vision for provision of open sport and recreation space, and giving some certainty for users and potential users seeking various development since the first stages of the park took shape in 1981.

A report presented by sports facilities manager Andrew White said reiterated that along with Maraenui Park and Tareha Recreation Reserve, Park Island has long been a focus for expansion to serve outdoor sporting needs of the city.

"While the majority of enhancement works have now been completed at Tareha Recreation Reserve and opportunities at Maraenui Park are dependent on acquisition of neighbouring land, Park Island offers the potential for relatively unobstructed planning and development for future use," he says.

About 68ha of land west of Westminster Ave was set aside in 1981, and much of the 50ha now in use was developed in the first few years, including the fenced Tremain Field, soccer stadium and hockey headquarters, all with spectator and changing facilities. Other sports and recreational activities are being considered for use of the facilities, including rugby league which has, for many years, decried a lack of sufficient access to change facilities. He said that after three decades of development, Park Island, referred to as "Hawke's Bay's largest sports park," is now at a point where new challenges and demands are emerging which, if not addressed, could lead to "frustration" for the council and its sports facilities users.

Traditional sports seasons now overlap, there is a major multi-milllion dollar operation in Sport Hawke's Bay, increased inter-region competition for tournaments, and new modified forms of traditional sports.

The plan also addresses growth of the adjacent Parklands residential subdivision and complementary development of the areas.

Cost is estimated at $40.2 million, about $13m "core council expenditure", and half from prospective partnerships.

The report recommends development in stages over at least the next 20 years.