Media release
11 May 2005

Station park has “something for everyone”

A partnership between community and council has resulted in an innovative design for a park at Swanson’s heart.

The Swanson Station Park completes a project begun by the Swanson community with finding from the Balefill Trust. It will unify the areas along the rail corridor in a uniquely Swanson landscape – a community space to walk, talk and play.

“It is in effect a walkway following natural contours linking the train station and café to the surrounding areas,” says Waitakere Community Board Chairman Christine Shepherd.

Traditional and contemporary aspects of Swanson are represented in the final landscape plan adopted by the Board at its last meeting.

“We said to the community, ‘what do you want?’ and this is the result. This plan reflects very much our past and present. It recognises that the railway and Swanson go hand in hand. The railway has been an essential factor of Swanson life since the late nineteenth century and the design acknowledges that,” says Mrs Shepherd.

“This park has something for everyone – young and old – it has informal seating areas, places to stroll and play, attractive plants and interesting design features like the community lawn and a raised pergola ? a marvellous place for picnics,” she says.

“There are all sorts of nice touches to this park. For example, the informal skate area will be surrounded by kowhai trees and a lawn. Also, an exposed aggregate concrete ramp will follow a historical alignment,” says Mrs Shepherd.

The design also includes railway sleepers, a mix of native and exotic plants, a nature trail and basketball half-court plus places for artworks by local children and commissioned artists.

Work at Swanson Station Park is expected to start towards the end of this year.

ENDS

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