Final phase of gardens upgrade about to begin
Temporary fencing has sprung up near the Hutt City council buildings as the third and final phase of the $9.8 million upgrade to the Riddiford Gardens gets underway.
The latest phase of the gardens’ facelift will see a new pathway installed behind the council buildings to allow greater access to Opahu Stream and the planned Lower Hutt Events Centre.
The work is part of the wider revitalisation of Lower Hutt’s Civic Precinct which aims to provide a useable community space which will link key buildings and infrastructure.
The precinct covers the Dowse Art Museum, War Memorial Library, Anzac Memorial Lawn, the town hall, council buildings and the future development of the old i-SITE building.
Landscaping work, development of a carpark to service the events centre and the installation of a water feature to replace the civic fountain are also part of the third phase of the upgrade which will cost $4.5 million.
Two bridges that lead from the existing path to the children’s playground will also be replaced.
Hutt City Council’s parks and gardens reserves planner Kelly Crandle said the Riddiford Gardens were an important part of the rejuvenated precinct as it pro- vided the setting for new developments within the area.
The completed upgrades from the first two phases had successfully helped revitalise the ‘‘outdated’’ infrastructure at the gardens. The area around the cenotaph and Anzac Memorial Lawn was improved during the first phase with an accessible landscape and shelter installed at the cost of $1 million.
A further $4.3 million was spent developing a park entrance on the corner of Queens Dr and Knights Rd as part of the second phase which included the installation of a half basketball court, a skateable landscape, plant beds and a pavilion to house a sub-station, public toilets, free electric barbecues and drinking fountains.
Crandle said the busy basketball court and skating areas next to the council buildings, in particular, were a testament to the popularity of the new facilities.
The path behind the council buildings will be closed to the public while work is in progress. Signage will direct people to alternative routes in the meantime.