The Community-Led Design group (CLDG) is excited and extremely grateful to mana whenua who have generously gifted Ponsonby Park, the new civic space at 254 Ponsonby Road, its name. The Waitematā Local Board will formally receive the name at their business meeting on 10 December. We will then be able to reveal this taonga. Ka pai. Nga mihi nui!
Meanwhile, the construction work at Ponsonby Park is progressing well. The urban canopy refurbishment continues and, once completed, this area will deliver an all-weather events space. The soffit and fascia work is underway now that most of the roof structure upgrade, that supports the photovoltaic panels, has been completed.
The new internal fitout of the repurposed toilet block, delivered to the site in November, is now mostly completed too. It, along with the newly constructed storeroom for on-site activation equipment, will then be cloaked with vertical wooden battens. This and the canopy are both examples of sustainable repurposing of existing assets.
A vehicle crossing has been cut through the existing nib wall on O’Neill Street, to facilitate access for on-site activations in the 'flexible urban plaza' area at the front of the site.
The underground services – water, power and sewerage – are all in place. This is good news for our plan to illuminate the site with festive lighting this month.
We have no further information to report concerning the small community garden three local schools have expressed an interest in establishing and looking after at the rear of the site. The CLDG advocated for this desired community outcome, it was actively enabled during the design group’s detailed design work that the Waitematā Local Board (WLB) approved at their 20 February 2024 business meeting. Local residents support this outcome, the well-established Sanctuary Mahi Whenua community garden will umbrella the project and the inimitable Boopsie Maran from ‘Places for Good’ will coordinate the initiative.
We had hoped to provide information about the Waitematā Local Board’s decision-making for this after the community garden was formally requested by deputation at the 18 June WLB business meeting. Unfortunately, we’ve not yet received either confirmation of its approval or an explanation of reasons for not approving the plans we presented. We are still following up on this and have escalated our LGOIMA. Stay tuned.
So, 2025 will be another busy year for the CLDG as we continue to guide Ponsonby Park through its realisation and activation. But for now, we would like to take this opportunity to thank EVERYONE who has been part of the Ponsonby Park journey to date from the original members of the then Auckland City Council who had the vision to purchase the site in 2006, to Auckland Council who has continued to support the vision of the new civic space through the retention of the entire site and the allocation of the endowment that has enabled the project to proceed, to our previous Ward Councillor Pippa Coom and our current Ward Councillor Mike Lee, to the past and present members of the Waitematā Local Board and their support staff, but most importantly to YOU, our community, who have consistently and continuously engaged with us throughout the Community-Led Design process, supporting us through this long, long journey, we THANK YOU.
We couldn’t have done it without you!
Ponsonby Park, the new civic space at 254 Ponsonby Road, is now well underway and more than halfway through its completion. It will be a place of diversity and inclusion where everyone is welcome. It will be an urban oasis that will be good for the people, good for the environment and good for Tāmaki Makaurau. Soon, this beautiful civic space will be available for all the residents, visitors and local businesses to access, enjoy and flourish in.
The volunteer CLDG wishes you all a happy and safe holiday season, full of good cheer, rest and relaxation. We look forward to continuing our advocacy work for Ponsonby Park, with the long-awaited opening scheduled for next year. BRAVO!
Arohanui.
For more information or to contact the CLDG, see our website 254ponsonbyrd.org.nz or Facebook Ponsonby Park or 254 Ponsonby Road. (JENNIFER WARD)