Central Park's finishing touches

Posted on 24 April 2007

Article appeared April 24th 2007 in CityLife. Written by Jonathon Howe. 

A group of green-thumbed volunteers has spent the past year beautifying Brooklyn's Central Park and as a result has made it safer. Led by Wellington city councillors Celia Wade-Brown and Ian McKinnon, the Friends of Central Park are made up of about 100 volunteers from areas surrounding the park.

"All sorts of people are involved, from children through to the elderly. It is a really diverse and friendly groups," says Cr Wade-Brown.

Using funding from the council, the Friends meet once a month to weed and plant native trees and shrubs alongside the stream. Cr McKinnon believes the Friends' efforts are making the park a more secure and safer place.

 

"Central Park is the jewel in the crown of Wellington, but it is a bit enclosed, overgrown and inhabiting:' he says. "What we are trying to do is make the park more accessible for the young mothers who walk through with their children:'

Cr Wade-Brown has a "passion for native plants. We have been planting flax, makomako, toetoe and five finger from the Wellington City Council nursery.
"We are hoping to get a grant to buy ferns as well." Much progress has been made and the stream and waterfall are significantly more visible.

"The plants have grown really well and passersby have commented on the improvements, but the big challenge is to remove the weeds permanently and the ongoing commitment is making a difference," says Cr Wade-Brown.

Cr McKinnon says he discovered the park during the 2004 local body elections and carried a flag for it on the campaign trail.

"In my view, Central Park is neglected and we are really trying to maintain it as a lovely walkway where people can feel refreshed," he says, With many people in the area not having gardens, he believes they should embrace the park as "their garden". "There are many families in the flats at the bottom of Brooklyn Rd, who don't have gardens and can now utilise the area.