Churchill Park gardens in spotlight

EMPTY?: Churchill Park at Solway which many people believe is not used enough. PHOTO/ LYNDA FERINGA

A public park in Masterton that many people feel is overlooked and underused could be getting a new lease of life.

Churchill Park at Solway, noted for its rose garden, has been the subject of discussion at a task group of Masterton District Council.

The Parks and Open Spaces task group has recommended to full council that officers investigate the acquisition of land next to the park to allow better access to the back of it.

Task group members believe that as a rose garden, Churchill Park is difficult to maintain and, because of its location out of mainstream Masterton, it gets fewer visitors than it should.

The frontage to the park is narrow and the only access is from High Street.

The council officers will be asked to investigate buying a property at the back of the park that is large enough to provide better access.

Discussion on Churchill Park was prompted by a submission made to the last annual plan hearings suggesting Churchill Park was underused and could serve another purpose.

The Parks and Open Spaces task group wants ratepayers to put their views forward on whether the park should remain or be given a different purpose by submissions for the next annual plan hearings.