Champion runner throws light on Auckland trails

Sir John Walker wants lighted running trails in Auckland, as in Central Park, New York. Photo / Paul Estcourt

Olympian Sir John Walker says flood-lighting running trails would add to the nightlife options of the Auckland City centre for its workers and residents.

An Auckland Council member, Sir John said the draft International City Centre Masterplan lacked provision for running trails among its ideas for the area from Parnell to Ponsonby.

The draft plan presented to yesterday's Future Vision Committee projected the number of central city residents would double to 40,000 by 2030 and the number of workers from 80,000 to 130,000 in the same period.

Sir John said if people were going to be "cooped up" in the city, they should be offered ways to get out and be active.

He said floodlights could be installed on Auckland Domain's trails to make them more user-friendly for people who worked different hours and wanted to run late at night.

"People have got to feel safe," he said.

New York's Central Park had the 1.5km Reservoir Trail, which drew up to 30,000 runners at night.

Sir John said the city needed trails with measured distances because runners liked to check their times.

The committee supported Sir John's suggestion which was also welcomed last night by Auckland Joggers Club president Nick Hoy.

"Lighting of running areas would be most desirable and anything like that in the central city would be well used," said Mr Hoy.

The club's twice-weekly pack runs drew 150 people and had to resort to the roads when daylight saving ended.

The YMCA club ran three laps of the domain on Thursday nights during daylight saving.

Auckland Council's website says the domain has a measured mile running course. The 1.6km course starts at the grandstand and takes about 6 minutes per circuit - compared with Sir John's world record-breaking 3:49.4 mile run in Sweden in 1975.