NEW LAY-OUT FOR KUIRAU RESERVE

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 1, Issue 65, 7 November 1931, Page 3

NEW LAY-OUT FOR KUIRAU RESERVE

PLAN COMPLETED ALL SPORTS CATERED FOR WITH VARIETY IN DESIGN OPEN AIR SWIMMING POOL A pian which, if carried out in its entirety, would transform the present denuded wilderness; ±hat is- the Kuirau Reserve, into -ofiCbf the most complete, and certainly the most uniaue of the reereation reserves in New Zealand, has now been completed by Mr. F. Tschopp, the landscape architect, who is at present preparing beautification plans for the Rotorua Borougb. Council. On the 50 acres of scrub, swamp, and cleared ground, studded with hot mud pools and springs, which at present compose the reserve, Mr Tschopp has prepared plans for playing fields for both summer and winter sport, with wide areas of shrubberies, lawns, - and plantings of native trees. The thermal springs and hot pools, which are scattered over the reserve have • also been. made the basis for suggested ornamental plantings in such a way that their unique features will be displayed in the .most effective possible setting. Open Air Swimming Po'ol In his plan, Mr. Tschopp has sug- . gested using the overflow from the pools to supply an open air hot swimming pool equipped with a diving tower and surrou-nded by winding paths and plantings of native trees and shrubs. An open air thermal swimming pool of this description, was recently opem ed in, Switzerland and proved so popular that in the first season, its capacity had to be doubled. Thousands of tourists visited the pool in the first year it was open and it is now being further extended to cope with the increasing demands. All Sports Catered For All sports are catered for in the layout, which includes plans for three rugby fields, a cricket oval, an association football ground, two hock,ey grounds, ten tennis courts, four basket-ball courts, three bowling greens, three croquet lawns, an athletic fields, where sports and chopping competitions can be held a sprint track, and a children's playground. The whole lay-out is designed on the axial principle — that is to say, from all the main vantage poifits, there are different lines along which , vistas of the reserve can be obtained.

Main Entrance The main entrance from Pukuatua Street is partieularly effective- The plan shows a wide open entrance with a rose plot in an island in the centre and opening into a wide circular drive surrounding a band-stand which it is suggested might be constructed. Inside the drive are circles of shrubs • and flower beds, with small er shrubs planted in the lawns nearer the stand. The circular drive is so designed that cars can park one deep on either side and still leave sufficient room for a third car to negotiate the centre. To the right of the stand and flanking the playing fields a wide expanse of shrubberies with paths winding beside the hot pools, but all set out on a definite plan which gives a design without being stereotyped and geometrical in pattern. Amidst these shrubberies an ornamental lake crossed by a rustie bridge is laid out and further on a hot mud pool with the open air hot swimming pool. Variety Another entrance is provided from Ranolf Street, radiating to left and right with a triangular island plot in the centre. The main drive through the reserve is 25 feet in width and winds pleasantly past the pools and lakes through the trees and shrubberies With the playing fields opening out on the right. Adequate car parking space is laid out on one side of the drive — in the whole design of the reserve, this facility has been exeeptionally well provided for. The main playing field is flanked on three sides by the other smaller grounds, with a children's playground planted with trees, lying between it and the main drive. The many small lakes and pools which dot the reserve have been used in the design to add variety to the lay-out in which the geometrical regularity of the playing grounds is relieved by the winding walks and skilfully designed irregularities of the paths and drives. The whole area on the plan is surrounded by rows of trees and shrubs, and sites have been indicated for a grandstand and dressing accommodation in connection with the different sporting activities. The plan, which well repays careful study, has been photographed and prints were received in Rotorua yesterday. Mr. Tschopp will shortly undertake the work of preparing a planting list setting out the most suitable types of shrubs and trees to be used, and will then probably prepape an estimate of the probable cost of carrying out the scheme.