As with so many things were it not for Covid, the construction of Ponsonby Park - the new civic space at 254 Ponsonby Road - would be well underway and nearing completion by now (and our lives would not have been turned upside down).
Instead, all local board's ‘One Local Initiative’ projects were temporarily suspended, including Ponsonby Park.
As our community’s representatives, the Waitematā Local Board continues to advocate strongly to Council for Ponsonby Park, as it is the board’s ‘key capital project' for the 2018-2048 long-term plan. This is why we are confident the board will persuade council to return to the original two-stage development of the project. Especially so, given that half of the required budget is now available and inflation is currently running at well over 4%*.
Once the Waitematā Local Board has formally put the first stage of the development of Ponsonby Park into their next financial year’s (2022-23) work programme, detailed design and consent work could be commenced as early as next year. Brilliant!
Please email Board Chair and Parks portfolio holder Richard Northey to support Ponsonby Park being commenced now: richard.Northey@aucklandcouncil.govt.nz
Council is also supportive of the Ponsonby Park project with council officers recommending the rest of the budget be allocated “from the Town Centre Revitalisation funds to enable the development of the full site at 254 Ponsonby Road, Ponsonby.”
Covid-19 has taught us, and continues to teach us, many things including the importance of social connection, the exigency of our public realm, and the need to build and sustain strong communities.
Now more than ever, we need the common ground and public spaces for people to come together so optimism and resilience can be nurtured and sustained.
The local community, local businesses, and visitors to Ponsonby have already waited for twenty-one years since the need for this new civic space was first identified. We think this is long enough.
Ponsonby Park let’s do this! (JENNIFER WARD)
www.254ponsonbyrd.org.nz
*#ponsonbynews #iloveponsonby #ponsonby #auckland #aucklandshippestrip #onlyponsonby #ponsonbyroad #Greylynn #freemansbay #westmere #ponsonby #hernebay #stmarysbay #archhill #family #friends #coxsbay #ponsonbypark
Published 5 November 2021