After almost three years of work, we are delighted that the chosen LandLAB design for the development of Ponsonby Park at 254 Ponsonby Road has been presented to the governing body by the Waitemata Local Board for funding in the Long Term Plan for Auckland City.
Community-led design is a grassroots process - rather than the usual ‘top-down’ approach - so it was you the community, who chose the preferred design; the very people who are going to use, live next to, and spend time in and around the park. You chose a design that best reflects the needs and desires of our community, including the local businesses that have also played a part in this process. We acknowledge the input of the Ponsonby Business Association in our CLD work.
The Waitemata Local Board has taken on the challenge and has advocated for funding to have the park realized by making Ponsonby Park their ‘One Local Initiative’ unfunded project to go into the Auckland Council Long-Term Plan. (Each local board gets to choose one project to put into this pool for funding consideration).
So where to from here? The Mayor will now put together a final version of the Long Term Plan for public consultation in Jan/Feb of 2018. We do not know what the Long Term Plan final version will look like, as council officers get to have their input and may propose changes.
This consulataion will be the last chance for our community to clearly reiterate the decision to have the whole of site, multi-use civic space (designed through an incremental process of discussion with the community, academic institutions, and designers from throughout Auckland) realised.
LandLAB’s chosen design fulfils the requirements of a space accessible for all and includes the key activities you told us were essential: a place to rest and relax, with green areas, somewhere to develop social connection, and a place for markets and events.
When the Long Term Plan consultation process begins, we will be seeking your support for the community’s chosen vision for the whole of the site development for Ponsonby Park.
It has been a long and winding road but as we near the completion of our CLD journey, it is humbling and gratifying to remember all the people who have been involved and who have supported us along the way. We appreciate your commitment, energy and aroha. We look forward to the realization of our wonderful community civic space at 254 Ponsonby Road soon. Please submit on the Long Term Plan and together we can provide the groundswell to push the project over the line and make our collective vision a reality. (JENNIFER WARD)
We wish you all a fun and safe holiday season and a happy New Year. See you again in 2018. You can follow us on our Facebook pages 254ponsonbyrd and Ponsonby Park.
And our website www.254ponsonbyrd.org.nz