The Community Led Design group met with the Waitemata Local Board (WLB) last month to workshop the final results of our CLD process.
The comments were again consistent with everything we had heard to date being;
1. Green space is essential.
2. Somewhere to rest and relax.
3. A place where people can connect with each other and meet their neighbours.
4. A flexible space for events/markets, etc.
With the only major difference in opinion being around a desire to keep the design simple.
We also advised the WLB of our clear intention to continue to provide the community with updates and information on the project as it moves ahead.
We were gratified to hear the WLB has made the Ponsonby Park project their “Priority un-funded capital project to advocate for to Council.” The WLB has resolved to seek to; “Secure funding, resource and support to deliver the community’s agreed vision and chosen design for Ponsonby Park, 254 Ponsonby Road.”
Hooray! To progress the project while this happens, the WLB has allocated funding in their next year’s budget to begin scoping and developing the details of the project.
So, what’s next? The WLB is creating its submission for the Long Term Plan. Once this submission process is open, we need the community (especially those who want Ponsonby Park soon!) to submit their supporting responses to the process.
We will publish notifications and links on how to do this via our webpage 254ponsonbyrd.org.nz as well as on both of our Facebook pages; Ponsonby Park and 254 Ponsonby Road. Meanwhile we have formed a working group to maintain the transparency of the project as it progresses. We will continue to provide regular updates and to keep you, the community, engaged and informed every step of the way.
So stay tuned here in the fabulous Ponsonby News, on our Facebook pages or our website, and we’ll let you know how you can continue to support the realisation of Ponsonby Park. (CHRIS BAILEY)