Work on a three-court artificial turf tennis and hockey facility could be under way in the park by early next year, ending eight years of discussion on whether the courts in the centre of town should be upgraded, retained, relocated or removed.
The working party responsible for developing the recreational space was disappointed by the outcome of a recent Vincent Community Board meeting, when the board rejected a proposal to remove two trees from one boundary of the courts, working party chairman Gordon Keys said.
The walnut and ash trees were on land on the northern boundary of the existing tennis courts, between the Central Stories building and the courts.
The new artificial turf courts would have to be moved so they were not damaged by tree roots.
The project would cost between $60,000 and $90,000 more if the courts could not be laid on the existing court space and had to be shifted, the board was told.
"In the long run, we think that decision [to spare the trees] is not in the interest of the proposed sports space, or even in the interest of Central Stories, as the potential problem of the trees will remain," Mr Keys said.
However, it was good the board had canvassed the views of all parties before making its decision.
"But we're optimistic there's a path forward to move the courts' footprint further away from the fence so everyone is happy and we expect, if everything goes well, those new courts will be under way by early next year, " he said.
The project was estimated to cost more than $150,000 and the working party was confident it could access sufficient funding to complete the work, Mr Keys said.
Grants would cover some of that, and a substantial figure had been included for voluntary labour.
Tenders for the project closed at the start of this week, he said.
"This project has been on the go for many years and there have been numerous submissions made and overwhelming public support for the establishment of an artificial turf facility."
It was important to remember it would not be a space exclusively for tennis players, Mr Keys said.
"It's more of a village green concept, where mums and kids can go and hit a tennis ball, or practise hockey, and we're hopeful it will lead to a resurgence of those sports in the town. At the same time, the facility will beautify that wasteland [the dilapidated courts] in the centre of town."
Long volley
History of the project
• March 2002: Pioneer Park landscape development plan includes several options for upgrade and location of tennis courts.
• June 2002: Public forum held about the park plan.
• July 2002: Alexandra Community Board workshop notes tennis courts are most contentious and most discussed issue. Submissions: 56% want three-four courts retained, 18% want courts relocated to northeastern corner of park, 12% did not want courts, 7% want three courts in current location.
• August 2002: Draft park landscape concept plan adopted, tennis courts decision deferred until Cultural Centre (Central Stories museum and art gallery) is built.
• December 2005: Alexandra Youth Forum presents petition to board, asking for courts to be upgraded.
• 2006-2009: Further debate whether courts should be retained, relocated, upgraded or removed. Alexandra board merges with Earnscleugh Manuherikia in 2007 to become Vincent.
• August 2009: Vincent Community Board endorses project comprising a three-court-sized artificial turf recreational space, near Central Stories.
• October 2010: Pioneer Park Recreational Activity Space working party requests that two trees be removed because of their impact on the site.
• November 15: Tenders close for artificial turf project. Community board decides against cutting the trees down.
