Petrie Park Community BBQ & Engagement Session

Feb 12, 2023 | Active Richmond, Educate Richmond, Healthy Richmond, Heritage Richmond, RR&BA

What a wonderful gathering today (12 February) at We are Richmond’s community BBQ and engagement session at Petrie Park!

The southern part of Petrie Park (situated between Petrie Street and Stapletons Road, north of Averill Street) used to be the home of Christchurch Richmond M.S.A. Bowling Club for over 60 years. Unfortunately the buildings and greens sustained too much damage and were subsequently demolished after the Christchurch earthquakes in 2010/2011.

Committee Member Hayley Guglietta (We are Richmond/Richmond Community Garden) started the journey of investigating the future of Petrie Park before covid hit, so it has been a long, patient wait to get started! She is the driver behind this initiative and has done extensive background work investigating soil remediation using planting techniques. She has also worked tirelessly to apply for funding.

ECAN are currently testing the soil, and they were happy involve children in obtaining a few soil samples today! CCC Council Park Rangers are also involved and guiding us about the possibilities of this park.

Today’s bbq was a chance for neighbours to gather and get to know each other. But also it was a great chance for the community to give feedback about what they would like to see on the former bowling grounds, and improvements to other parts of the park (i.e. the playground area). Lots of ideas were flowing and questionnaires filled out.

Thanks to New World Stanmore for generously sponsoring the delicious food provided today.

Thanks to Mitre 10 Mega Papanui for both the Bouncy Castle and BBQ.

Sponsored by Summer with Your Neighbours (Papanui-Innes Community Board) and Richmond Community Garden.