Long term vision - Morrinsville Rec
Thanks to all who took part in our online surveys and public meetings over 2021 and 2022 about the future of Morrinsville Rec. It was wonderful meeting with Ngāti Hauā, the regular users of the Rec and hearing all the responses about what people like about Morrinsville Rec, what's missing and your overall vision for the ground. We worked with park design experts Resilio Studio to turn measure the space and see what combinations of field/pitch and building layouts could fit where and working out what options we have for now and in the future.
How Morrinsville Rec looks now
The 22ha park is Morrinsville’s largest public green space, currently catering to cricket, football, tennis, swimming and polo. It also has Swim Zone Morrinsville, an off-leash dog exercise area, children’s playgrounds, a mini skate bowl, motorhome parking and dumping facilities, the old tennis club building, the old campground, a residential unit, car park, public toilets and the Morrinsville River Walk. It also includes the land between the railway and the historic park boundary which we’ve only recently acquired, creating further development opportunities. Historically it's been used by a variety of indviduals and groups, however at the moment large areas of the park are under-utilised and have been for a number of years.
Western field
You’ve told us you want to make sure our big events like the A&P Show, Motorama and Fireworks can continue and there's space for a range of sports. We’ve aware sport needs change over time, so have come up with a range of ways the Western field could be laid out and used.
Eastern field
Cricket and football and popular sports in Morrinsville at the moment. Here's a way we can better use the space to meet the growing needs of both sports.
Built facilities
You’ve told us you’d potentially like to see an events centre, a revamped swimming complex and more playgrounds/youth areas here in the future, this is how we see these structures could be laid out.
Vegetation and vehicle/pedestrian plan
You’ve told us you want better links into town, a perimeter track and a plan for vegetation/plantings. This is how we could possibly make it happen.
Recreation spaces
You’ve told us you want a dog exercise area, motorhome spot and space for the currently popular sport Ultimate Frisbee. Here are some different ways we could make this happen.
The survey is now closed, but check out all the ideas and feedback we received from our public survey – thank you to everyone who took part.
Click the buttons to show those answers:
What do you value/like most about the Morrinsville Recreation Ground?
What would you like to see at the recreation ground that isn’t here/happening already?
If you could change anything about the Morrinsville Recreation Ground what would it be?
Do you have a vision for the the Morrinsville Recreation Ground?
Do you have any other information or feedback that you would like to share with us?
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Close by and a big open space with shade
A safe fully fenced area that dogs can be off leash in to run about and play.
I can walk my dog off lead. Only place in Morrinsville where I can do it.
A more secure off lead dog park
Have all gates unlocked during the day
Have an area with picnic tables and shelters and bbqs for people to enjoy.
I have stopped going down due to the vicious dog roaming. I need to protect my dog as she is tiny and also myself. I have heard of people being attacked and when they fight it off it comes back for more. That is too scary for me as I am normally on my own.
It's our reboot area
A pump and jump track
Nothing much. Love the place
More things for our kids to do
Morrinsville has so little to offer our kids. We would appreciate counsel investing in the children of the community.
The river walk. The open fields.
Better use of the area by the big swings.
A bigger playground area.
A covered swimming pool for year round swimming.
A summer market or bootfair.
I would like to feel safer.
Add a cafe.
Improve the skate park for use by older children.
The rec ground has huge potential but there is always an underline seedy feeling there.
I think if it were improved the community would take more pride in it and it would be a nicer place to go.
It is a great open space to refresh the mind.
The drive though road is picturesque with its beautiful trees which are stunning in the summer and autumn. Great for photography
Like to see a bicycle track around the perimeter so that we can feel safe riding our bikes in safety in a beautiful place and so contributing to keeping our community healthy and happy. A cycle track could also be used as a running track and have different hours or days for either.
Would like to see that graffiti painted concrete skate board hole removed as it is a very dangerous place, not only because its isolated for bullying or abuse of unsupervised children it is an eyesore.
Would look after the century old trees by doing some well thought through pruning, and preventing cars from compacting the immediate area around each tree. Get an Arborist who is conservation and tree knowledgeable, not some cowboy with a chainsaw which could in the long term destroy these majestic trees.
Straighten all road fences up. Tidy up the noxious weeds all along the railway side of the road.
Prevent dogs from defaecating all over the Rec grass by some means maybe a strip at the far end
I see the beautiful tunnel of trees as a real tourist spot and also to be encouraged as a Wedding photography area with the Autumn leaves and the green summer tunnel as a back drop. I see the roadway through the area being tidied up with some parking areas for a few cars......but not over done and keeping its rural appeal in place. It is truly a missed opportunity currently to attract tourists. I see picnics being encouraged and children running around keeping fit and healthy.
The tennis courts are a real asset and more needs to be done to attract people to the area from security, attractiveness, up keep, perhaps different community groups supporting it eg schools, grey power, rotary etc.
Because we don't have any bike trails here I believe that cycle trail around the perimeter of the Rec ground is a must for our town because too many people have died cycling and running in this area and people/families don't want to cycle amongst anti cycling drivers. I did a comment on community facebook and many people supported the idea.
The swimming pool and the forest walk
A covered pool for all year round. A water slide. Some of those water feature games like they have by the lake in Hamilton for smaller kids.
Do you the tennis club because it’s dangerous to go on top floor apparently. Covered pool for all year round.
Covered pool for all year round. Get pool to regulation size for 50m so we can have only one in Waikato and hold events. Maybe some basketball hoops and an outdoor table tennis table. Add more park equipment to where the old park is which just has a couple of swings now. Perhaps a big screen as part of the pavilion where people could meet to watch say cricket or sport or even do gaming for younger ones. Some really nice flat concrete for roller skating and scootering etc.
Great open space beautiful area
Police catching the drug dealers off Avenue Road
Swimming complex all year around openibg
Open space to let the dog run and catch ball with.
Not closed in.
Clean and tidy
Can run dog also take a river walk as well.
Plenty of Variety.
Rubbish bag Despenser for dogs like Te aroha wetlands and matamata centennial drive have.
A couple seats to sit and watch dogs
A water fountain dispenser for animals and humans
Night lighting if down there late you can see were your walking.
Couple more rubbish bins.
Barbeque picnic area
Rubbish bag Despenser for dogs like Te aroha wetlands and matamata centennial drive have.
A couple seats to sit and watch dogs
A water fountain dispenser for animals and humans
Night lighting if down there late you can see were your walking.
Nice picnic areas
Better lighting, seating and a place you'd feel safe day or night time. Maybe a few cherry blossom or fruit trees around the place.
Barbeque areas to have picnics or nice family dinners on summer evening.
If your thinking about reducing size of polo grounds were dogs run please, please don't make it small. Let it be a good size and plenty of room to run.
River walk and pools
Love the place.
The open spaces
Indoor heated pool that can be used all year round with a gym facility onsite also, outdoor pools to have some big beautiful trees for shade, slides into the pools with a huge sprinkler water play area for the children a bit like Waterworld in Te Rapa
The homeless sleeping along the river walk, possibly have a safe area for them undercover with a public toilet and shower room.
In the actual grounds would be awesome to host concerts, and sporting events, outdoor movies in the summer, festivals, with a purpose built stage, a venue that can host indoor functions.
It’s a great space that needs to be utilised more
Openess
Find something to replace the camp ground
Turn the camp ground into a mountain bike or BMX track
Big space for dogs off leash
No thing
More toilets that are open on the polo grounds side
No
No
River walk with dogs, especially areas where dogs can swim.
Wheelchair access through gates.
Accessible to all.
Latest news about this project
New pop-up pump track arrives just in time for summer
Blessing marks opening of Morrinsville Recreation Ground perimeter path
Morrinsville Recreation Ground perimeter path opens Thursday 16 November
Morrinsville Recreation Ground river walk upgrades
Morrinsville Recreation Ground perimeter path well underway
Frequently Asked Questions
Over the last few years we’ve been approached by a number of groups or individuals wanting to do various activities at Morrinsville Recreation Grounds. One of the challenges has been a lack of an overall, long term community vision for the space.
When we recently consulted on our Parks and Open Spaces Strategy it was clear that Morrinsville residents were passionate about ‘The Rec’.
When we consulted on our 2021-31 Long Term Plan, there was strong support for developing a long term vision to guide future development and use of the grounds.
