Park masterplan signed off

The long-awaited masterplan for Wellsford’s Centennial Park has been formally approved and signed off by Rodney Local Board.

The plan puts in place a 10-year plus programme of improvements ranging from new multi-use courts, car parking and signage to the development of a new indoor multi-use facility.

There have been attempts by several local sports clubs and organisations to get improved facilities at Centennial Park over many years, none of which have ever come to much.

This latest iteration of improvements was set in motion with a needs assessment in 2020, which confirmed what clubs had been saying for years – that many of the courts and other facilities were in poor condition.

The board approved the development of a new masterplan in February 2021 and the draft went out for community engagement in September last year and public feedback in November.

The top three priorities were relocating the netball courts to the tennis courts and having courts marked out for different sports; having a new community use building with shared facilities and improving accessibility; and safety around the park.

Other improvements could include upgrading the dog park, new toilets and improving the playground.

In a report to the local board, Auckland Council service and asset planner Sheryne Lok said the masterplan set the vision for the park to be a key community sports and recreational hub for the Wellsford community and aimed to guide development of the park over the next decade and beyond.

Deputy board chair Louise Johnston said it was an awesome plan and great news for Wellsford, though conceded it was only the first step and funding still had to be sourced.

“But you’ve got to have a plan to get funding,” she said.

Now the plan has been approved, council will work with the local board to recommend masterplan projects to include in current and future work programmes.