Fordlands residents last night applauded a decision by Rotorua's council to go ahead with plans to build a $150,000 youth park on the Wrigley Rd Reserve.
Rotorua district councillors voted to go ahead with the park after the issue was re-debated.
Earlier this month the council's Infrastructure Services Committee voted to go
ahead with the youth park however, councillor Charles Sturt introduced a "three day rule", which meant the matter had to be re-debated at a full meeting of council.
Mr Sturt said strong opposition from Fordlands residents had not been heard by the council and a petition signed by about 90 people opposing the youth park had not been tabled.
He said there were other sites that could be more suitable for the park.
The park is one of four youth parks being built in Rotorua over the next two years at a total cost to ratepayers of $600,000.
Councillor Glenys Searancke said she was disappointed the matter had to be re-debated as she said the feeling from Fordlands residents, at an information evening held about the park a few weeks ago, had signalled strong support for the park.
"There has been huge consultation done with Fordlands residents ... they were adamant that this is what they want," she said.
John Paul College principal Patrick Walsh said in a letter to the council that he was not opposed to Fordlands getting a youth park but that Wrigley Rd was not a suitable place.
Mr Walsh said he feared the youth park was going to be a "$150,000 white elephant" and become a drain on ratepayers, who would have to pay for any repairs or clean-up of graffiti.
Councillor Maureen Waaka said the Fordlands Community Association was fully supportive of the park and was prepared to take responsibility for it.
Councillor Karen Hunt agreed.
"These kids need something like this in their neighbourhood, the responsibility now belongs to them to look after it and enjoy it," Mrs Hunt said.
Councillor Mark Gould said ratepayers should not have to pay for the continued upkeep of the park as he believed it would be the target of repeated vandalism.
The council's Youth Projects officer Jill Campbell said now the go-ahead had been given the people of Fordlands could look forward to using a modern park.
"We will be trying to get some physical education programmes going at the site and breathe some new life into the neighbourhood's parks," Mrs Campbell said.
