Disaster remembered

The Recreation and Racecourse Reserve has been used for many things over the years, from running the no-horse race to growing grain and then potatoes during WWII when horse racing shifted to Stratford.

However, tragedy struck when celebrating the first anniversary of Armistice Day, 11 November, 1920, 99 years ago.

On this occasion the first aeroplane to visit New Plymouth used the Reserve to land and take off.

All was going well until the last flight of the day when the Avro crashed on approach claiming the lives of the pilot Captain Richard Russell DFC, young Miss Warnock, a relative I never got to meet, and James Clarke; James Clarke being the incumbent Mayor of New Plymouth.

Clarke’s death while in office adds to the many events and controversies surrounding this centrally located and underutilised piece of land.

So, when the mayoral chains are worn Mayor Clarke will be there watching and listening, hoping the council will this time treat this very large piece of land bordering Pukekura Park and minutes to city central as a ‘blank canvas’ and do something really special with it.

Don’t lock up its potential use for selfish horse training and racing.

Be on the right side of history.

We desperately need a large sport and community hub with plenty of parking and an extensive open park, plantings, cycleways, a training pool, you name it.

Ask yourself what will this reserve look like in 50 years’ time when the population has doubled and there’s a four-day working week?

Selwyn Watkins, New Plymouth