Representatives from various user groups of Southern Ian Galloway Park (IGP) met in Feb 2022 and agreed to work together to bring better amenities to this highly used park in the western suburbs.

Initial discussions focused on the provision of public toilets at Southern end of the park for the BMX site, skate ramps & dog park. The scope was extended to mid-park through discussions with GAA & Baseball representatives, and after a meeting with council officers in June 2022 the scope was widened to include the whole park.

The intent is to create a plan that takes a holistic view of the demands for recreation space in the Western suburbs, that has broad support among the stakeholders, and can be implemented in a progressive sequence as funding and work capacity allow.

The following groups have been involved, along with attendees at a public meeting in August 2022:

• Capital BMX club with 75 members, who lease 8000 sqm of IGP and have built a UCI level BMX track raced by hundreds of licenced BMX riders and used by thousands of public riders.

• Creswick Valley Residents Association and Karori Residents Association, representing residents overlooking IGP from east & west - many of whom also the use the fenced dog park or are members of one of the stakeholder clubs.

• Wellington Baseball Association & Wellington City Pirates Baseball Club, with upward of 70 local & 250 regional youth players using pitches south of Walworth Rd.

• Wellington & Hutt Valley Gaelic Football & Hurling association, with over 150 members using the pitches south of Walworth Road for over 10 years.

• Wellington Skateboard Association, who operate the ramps at the south end free for public use.

• Wests Rugby, who own club rooms at the north end and are Wellington’s largest junior rugby club.

• Onslow Cricket, who are based in Nairnville Park and use the cricket pitches at IGP in summer.

• Waterside Karori football club, based in Karori Park, with an interest in using IGP for training.

The Council initially proposed to create a masterplan for IGP in the 2023/24 financial year, and are now planning to do so in FY24/25.

The following is a summary of the stakeholder discussions & public meeting in 2022:

1. Hub building / toilets: Several size and location options exist for public toilets and potentially a shared hub building.  a) Public toilets with “BMX club rooms”, b) Public toilets only, c) Hub building with equipment storage for multiple organisations, club rooms, first aid, gym, public toilets, café/bar, viewing decks + venue hire.

2. Pump track: Regional scale multi-use destination pump track (2500-3500 sqm), asphalted and designed to accommodate skateboards, scooters, BMX & MTB.  Multiple loops, inc. loop suitable for balance bikes & wheelchairs, and timed dual racing loop.

3. Parking: Extend car parking to accommodate current & future user volumes.  a) extend Whitehead Rd carpark b) Parking on Curtis St; c) Convert part of under used sports field at mid IGP to parking (e.g. half of field 6 for Baseball/BMX/rugby parking) d) additional parking for Northern IGP.

4. BMX developments: a) Spectator earthworks; b) Install Gate Canopy – improve rider safety, reduce gate noise for surrounding properties, a requirement to host a major event; c) install track lighting to extend winter use; d) BMX club rooms for better ‘tuck shop’ provision, equipment storage and public toilets; e) sealed driveway to enable warm-up;

5. Skate developments: a) Install a beginner skate ramp; b) rebuild the vert ramp; c) build a skate park.

6. Basketball: Add one or more basketball courts or half courts with adjustable height hoops.

7. MTB developments: a) dirt jumps; b) MTB skills area; c) connection trails with Otari Wilton Bush and Karori cemetery.

8. Dog Park developments: install shade, improve drainage, plant trees for wind protection, sealed path around outside, provide seating/picnic tables & dog toys.

9. Diamond sports: a) Create an all-weather baseball diamond as Pirates ‘home’; b) several junior diamonds to enable festival play;

10. Pitch improvements: a) Resolve drainage issues across all areas; b) install all-weather surface  c) install lighting, d) shelterbelt for wind protection. Pitches are currently shared between codes – winter: rugby / football; summer: GAA / cricket / baseball. Consider adding further codes to any all-weather turf e.g. hockey.

11. Potential site of future neighbourhood playground

12. Safety improvements: a) Remove vegetation & blocks from corner Curtis St / Whitehead Rd to improve sight lines & safety b) install mini roundabout at junction to stop corner cutting c) add a crossing on Wilton Road to improve pedestrian access to the Northern end of the park

13. Connections: a) Make a shared use jogging / cycling path around IGP similar to Karori Park b) create walking and cycling connections to neighbouring suburbs c) Signage, visible from the road publicising the sports.

There are multiple potential locations and combinations for these requirements and some potential contention between codes, so options analysis and further stakeholder consultation is needed.