Michael Ayrton: Cornwall Park a magnificent gift that keeps giving

A group from Onehunga Playcentre explore Cornwall Park where farming activities still play a key role. Photo / Natalie Slade

This weekend you may be among the 50,000 Aucklanders expected to visit Cornwall Park. If the great weather continues you might enjoy a family picnic, use one of the park's many sports venues or just relax and enjoy the peace in some of the country's finest parkland.

But what few people are likely to do is reflect on how everything we enjoy about the park got here in the first place - or how we are able to enjoy it for free.

For while four million visitors enjoy the park each year, not one cent of the costs comes from rates or taxes. That is thanks to the magnificent bequest of the "Father" of the city whose anniversary we celebrate this weekend, John Logan Campbell.

Sir John may or may not have been surprised at how big Auckland has become 175 years since it was founded. But he had the foresight to see how its citizens might want to enjoy a large green parkland near the centre of their town. And he had the smarts to ensure the park would always be able to pay its own way, by creating a trust that earns lease income from the houses that have since been built on the edges of the land he gifted.

These days the park ranks among New Zealand's top leisure destinations. (By comparison Christchurch's Hagley Park has 1.1 million visitors a year.)

Last year it was ranked first among New Zealand parks and sixth among Australasia's by TripAdvisor. Arguably that ranking would be much higher if only free attractions were included.

The Cornwall Park Trust Board commissions regular independent surveys of park users. These show just how fully Aucklanders enjoy Sir John's gift. Indeed, our 2013 survey found the park has a 99 per cent approval rating, versus the national average of 88 per cent for parks. Most people rate the gardens, trees and kids' playgrounds highly. Reflecting the eternal value of peace and quiet, simply walking is the most popular single identified activity.

Eighty two per cent of visitors come from within the region but most travel for more than half an hour to get there. The park is slightly more popular with females (64 per cent of users) than males.

The farm Sir John established grew to 40ha, used for sheep and cattle grazing, while he also tried growing olives and grapes. It's appropriate then that farming activities are still a key part of the park's used space. The park is a gift that keeps on giving. As Auckland grows it continues to attract people from all backgrounds. If you want to give thanks to Sir John all you need to do is enjoy it.

Michael Ayrton is director of Cornwall Park For information about park events, visit www.cornwallpark.co.nz.