Popular park back in action

It's a wrap for the octopus tentacles, the whale's mouth is cleaned out, and it's green-for-go for the rocket ship - Kowhai Park will reopen tomorrow.

The park in Whanganui East has been closed since the June floods, with months of work needed to reinstate the children's playground and neighbouring reserve.

Tonnes of silt had to be removed before work could start, and the park had to be dry enough for work to begin. The project also included re-grassing of substantial areas.

Whanganui District Council senior parks officer Wendy Bainbridge said most of the park would be open for the public on Friday, though not everything was quite ready. "The ground is still patchy in parts and there are prickles in the grass, so please wear shoes,

"Most of the play equipment needs painting, which will happen later in the year. We also want people to know it will be another 12 months before Kowhai Park is back to looking like it was before the floods - but we are getting there."

On a more positive note, four new swings have been installed, including two basket swings for group play, a disability swing and a rope swing. The council will look at creating a pathway from the carpark to the disability swing in the near future.

The Tot Town railway and the water park will remain shut, but Ms Bainbridge said it should not be long before they are up and running.

An official reopening may be held later in the year to acknowledge the many people who have worked on the repairs.