We’re developing the long term vision for the Morrinsville Recreation Grounds and want to take a fresh look at the space and make a plan for the future with the different groups and individuals in our community that want to use it.

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, a car park, public toilets and the Morrinsville River Walk.

 “When we consulted on our Parks and Open Spaces Strategy, it was clear that Morrinsville residents were passionate about ‘The Rec’,” said Cr. James Thomas, chair of the Reimagine Morrinsville Rec working party.  “Over the last few years we’ve been approached by a number of groups or individuals wanting to do various activities at the grounds and one of the challenges has been a lack of an overall, long term community vision for the space,” he said. The concept for a long-term vision was also strongly supported when we consulted on our 2021-31 Long Term Plan. “This is an opportunity for us all to reimagine the grounds and think about how we’d like to use the area in the future,” said Cr. Thomas.

Over the next few months, we’ll start talking with the community, to find out what’s working well, what’s not working and what could be better at the Morrinsville Recreation Grounds. “Due to the alert level restrictions, we’ll need to start the conversation online,” said Cr. Thomas. “Then once we’re able, we’ll provide face to face opportunities for key users and the public to share their ideas, so we can hear from a good variety of people”. Once we have gathered the vision and ideas the community has for the grounds, we’ll be able to start drawing up some concept plans of what the space could look like. The long term vision will then be used to guide future development and use of the grounds.

“We encourage anyone interested in the future vision of the grounds to please take up the opportunities, either online or in person, to tell us your vision for this community space,” said Cr. Thomas. Some ground work has already been done with early engagement with Ngāti Hauā, a site analysis and a working party set up made up of Morrinsville Ward Councillors, key staff, local community and iwi representatives.

We’re currently gathering the contact details of the the key users of the Morrinsville Recreation Grounds. Key users will soon be asked to complete an online survey then be invited to attend a workshop (date and venue Covid-19 level dependant). Key users, to ensure we have your correct info, please go to mpdc.govt.nz/say-it/update-your-contact-details.

The rest of the community will be invited to take part in the discussion, initially online then in person as Covid-19 levels allow. If you are interested in the Reimagine Morrinsville Rec project, sign up at mpdc.govt.nz/sign-up to have updates sent directly to your email.