EASTON PARK

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLVII, Issue 2909, 14 July 1925, Page 2

EASTON PARK

ORIGINAL SCHEME TO BE ADHERED TO. ' In September, 1019, Mr A. S. Easton offered to liie Borough Council a piece of ground now known as Easton Park, “for a public gar-

den ami recreation ground." Ever' since then Easton Park seems to have been the bone of contention among the local Beautifying Social v and sports bodies. The Beautifying Society obtained the services of Mr Black, of Palmerston N., and plans were drawn tip to beautify the Park and lay it out to accommodate the different sports. The football ground, as set out in the plan, ran north and south aeross the park, and this fact seems Lo have caused a lot of discussion between the Rugbyitcs and tlie Council. It was held that there was not suilicient room to play rugby across the Held., and tlie Council finally granted the Rugby Union the right to pln v football east and west. The Beautifying Society planted the west end with shrubs, but apart from that, Mr Black’s scheme was not adhered to.

At last night’s meeting of the Borough Council, a letter was received from the Beautifying Society, asking that the Council give careful consideration to the question of beautifying Easton Park in accordance with the original scheme laid down.

The Mayor said that there was sufficient room for football across the field. The Beautifying Society intended having a local effort to raise funds for the laying down of a children’s playing ground if the Council would agree to the football ground being altered to north and south, instead of east and west. He was of opinion that this Council might be able to grant that which the other Council could not in respect to Easton Park. It was the Society’s intention to make provision for tennis and croquet grounds on the park also.

Cr. MeMurray said that he and Or. Woods hart measured the ground, and there was sufficient room for football across the field. There was plenty of room for everything.

Cr. Cowley said the Beautifying Society had done good work in the town, anil were deserving of support. lie would support the letter.

It was decided, after further discussion, that the Council is now willing to adopt the original scheme laid out bv Mr Black, and will be willing to co-operate in the carrying out of the scheme. It was decided that the western boundary of the Park . be fenced and planted with ‘•'two-year-old t rees. It was also decided that the Foxton Football Club be granted permission to remove the fence it had erected on the Park.