River the last piece
Palmerston North is about to get a spruce-up. Janine Rankin investigates what’s to come as the city’s transformation takes shape.
The banks of the Manawatu¯ River will be pulsing with people and activity if Palmerston North’s bold ambitions for a river park get public approval.
Development of the riverside network from Te A¯ piti to Ashhurst, through the city, and across the pedestrian and cycle bridge to Massey and Linton, is one of three key pillars of a 10-year vision to transform the city.
Other priorities are the city centre transformation, including library, Te Manawa and streetscape upgrades, and enabling growth through residential development, roading and extending services.
For city planner David Murphy, creating more reasons for people to visit the river park ticks a lot of boxes, including strengthening people’s emotional attachment to the river.
As a Palmerston North man through and through, he has observed how people are seeing the river less as a barrier and a threat, and more as their urban backyard and playground.
‘‘I grew up in Palmerston North and hardly ever used the river. Now, my kids want to be down there whenever they can.’’
Parts of the river park development and its links are already under way, with leisure assets planner Jason Pilkington working with Rangita¯ ne and designers on signage to help people find their way from place to place, like commuters on a subway.
At the Esplanade, just off the shared riverside pathway, the Junior Road Safety Park is pumping, visitor attraction Wildbase Recovery is nearing completion, and the miniature railway is building a new station at the proposed new entrance.
At Dittmer Drive, the He Ara Kotahi cycle and pedestrian bridge piles and abutments are in place, and the pathway from the Fitzherbert Bridge is stretching towards Linton.
The bridge and pathway will open up the side of the river less explored, with a bridge over the Turitea Stream and a viewing platform overlooking Ahimate Pa¯ , formerly known as Waitoetoe Beach.
Tanenuiarangi Manawatu¯ is a key partner in a proposal to include an ‘‘urban eels’’ set of steps down to the stream, where people could feed the eels and come to appreciate water’s lifegiving qualities in a natural environment.
Ahimate Park’s makeover is gathering pace. A dog agility loop is almost finished, board walks are appearing and preparations are under way to create a picnic area honouring Ahimate Pa¯ , and a fenced dog park and car park are coming soon.
Mountainbike paths are springing up there, and near the Albert St access.
Pilkington said although there were multimillion-dollar budgets available to support river developments, mountainbike tracks were an example of volunteers getting involved, cutting costs and developing a sense of ownership of the river park.
Upstream, the proposed new Manawatu¯ Gorge road replacement opens up possibilities for off-road access all the way to Te A¯ piti, through the gorge to Ballance.
Those longer rides and walks were expected to appeal to residents, visitors, walkers, cyclists and people who use campervans.
Central Economic Development Agency senior marketer Janet Reynolds said the river was an iconic part of the city’s landscape and enhancements would add to ‘‘the fantastic lifestyle’’.
It would create more opportunities for visitors to stay and enjoy off-the-beaten-track experiences close to the urban area.
And for residents, Murphy said the hope was that in taking the river to heart, people would better understand the importance of improving water quality and investing in the city’s wastewater management.