Long term vision - Morrinsville Rec
Thanks to all who took part in our online surveys and public meetings over 2021 and 2022 about the future of Morrinsville Rec. It was wonderful meeting with Ngāti Hauā, the regular users of the Rec and hearing all the responses about what people like about Morrinsville Rec, what's missing and your overall vision for the ground. We worked with park design experts Resilio Studio to turn measure the space and see what combinations of field/pitch and building layouts could fit where and working out what options we have for now and in the future.
How Morrinsville Rec looks now
The 22ha park is Morrinsville’s largest public green space, currently catering to cricket, football, tennis, swimming and polo. It also has Swim Zone Morrinsville, an off-leash dog exercise area, children’s playgrounds, a mini skate bowl, motorhome parking and dumping facilities, the old tennis club building, the old campground, a residential unit, car park, public toilets and the Morrinsville River Walk. It also includes the land between the railway and the historic park boundary which we’ve only recently acquired, creating further development opportunities. Historically it's been used by a variety of indviduals and groups, however at the moment large areas of the park are under-utilised and have been for a number of years.
Western field
You’ve told us you want to make sure our big events like the A&P Show, Motorama and Fireworks can continue and there's space for a range of sports. We’ve aware sport needs change over time, so have come up with a range of ways the Western field could be laid out and used.
Eastern field
Cricket and football and popular sports in Morrinsville at the moment. Here's a way we can better use the space to meet the growing needs of both sports.
Built facilities
You’ve told us you’d potentially like to see an events centre, a revamped swimming complex and more playgrounds/youth areas here in the future, this is how we see these structures could be laid out.
Vegetation and vehicle/pedestrian plan
You’ve told us you want better links into town, a perimeter track and a plan for vegetation/plantings. This is how we could possibly make it happen.
Recreation spaces
You’ve told us you want a dog exercise area, motorhome spot and space for the currently popular sport Ultimate Frisbee. Here are some different ways we could make this happen.
The survey is now closed, but check out all the ideas and feedback we received from our public survey – thank you to everyone who took part.
Click the buttons to show those answers:
What do you value/like most about the Morrinsville Recreation Ground?
What would you like to see at the recreation ground that isn’t here/happening already?
If you could change anything about the Morrinsville Recreation Ground what would it be?
Do you have a vision for the the Morrinsville Recreation Ground?
Do you have any other information or feedback that you would like to share with us?
Reset
The Swimming Pool
Extended hours for the swimming pool and being able to use it both Summer and Winter.
The Pool hours. A covered pool especially for Winter and extended hours in Summer.
A great Summer area especially with sufficient parking. Again - longer swimming hours and the ability to swim in Winter
An area of native garden attracting native wildlife.
Large open space close to town
Stop people riding motorbikes on it
As above
Great work has been done by volunteers down the river walk council need to back it up
No
Space
Year round pool facilities.
Year round pool use
The wide open space away from peoples homes, walking the dog off a leash. The massive trees!
Have the pools open longer during the summer months and access to bbq’s, more lighting too, even if there were lights in the trees, have a canteen or restaurant to visit
Return the camping ground to help manage homeless families
No
As Above ⬆️
It is a dog friendly place
Cameras
Beautiful grounds, river walk
Better use of swimming pool - needs to be roofed and then can be used all year round, terrible waste of. 50m pool, only one the Waikato. Encourage sport teams to use the facility, maybe build a gym to enable more people to be able to afford to use it.
Upgrade tennis courts - encourage different sport facilities for the whole community to use at affordable prices.
Better security to discourage vandalism, maybe if upgrades were made, people would appreciate the facilities more and use them.
Becoming a centre for sport and recreation maybe even a nice cafe facility would bring people there.
The space is nice and green and very handy to town.
It’s hard to work out its purpose. I’m a new user and it’s unclear what to do there.
Need to do something with the camp ground space, it’s a bit scary there on your own.
More signage from all entry points
Safety needs to be a priority- I’m too terrified to go back there after the incidents.
A safe place for dogs and their owners. Take the pressure off Holmwood Park.
Definitely need dog waste rubbish bins all over the city as people don’t pick up as they have nowhere to put the bags.
Public access to cricket nets
Better utilisation of facilities and club rooms. Cricket nets upgraded and relocated closer to facilities
It should be the hub of an aligned sports club for swimming cricket tennis etc
The beautiful river walk, and having off lead dog areas
Monitering / educating about dog control and laws. Pretty much every day I have an off lead dog bothering me.
Not have random peoples dogs bothering me and my dogs.
Playground river walk and swimming pool
Year round swimming
Larger playground
I like the River Walks and the open space that can be utilized. The swimming pool (when it is open). My kids were at the pool pretty much everyday last summer holidays and it's a shame it can't be used year round.
The Pool being covered and being able to be used year round. The river walk extended to join up with the Holmwood park section. Maybe the Camping area reopened or be able to be used by local groups. Bike Track/skills area similar to Cambridge. More picnic areas
Changing the area where the campers can park. During Soccer season parking is a big issue and having some of the campers parking over 5+ spaces is a lot. Putting in a public toilet at the Avenue Road South end or opening the ones that are already there. Creating an enclosed swimming venue.
The Swimming Pool and club rooms need an overhaul, the town is increasing in population and not having a swimming facility that is able to be used year round is a wasted opportunity. Something like Te Awamutu would work well. Still have the big pool but change up the other areas, install a hydroslide etc make the whole rec area a destination to spend the day not just for sports.
Holding a bi monthly event such as a car boot sale or even seeing if the travelling Gypsy Caravans would setup on their tours. Encouraging smaller local events such as colour runs or mini adventure races.
It's a nice big space for the doggos to get a good run. Love the pools and aqua fitness.
Set aquafitness days and times.
Skatebowl cleaned up of graffiti and rubbish.
Benches or seats placed around the outside of the grounds so we can rest while walking. I have a back injury so find it difficult to get down and then up again off the ground.
As above.
It remains fully accessible to the community
Established trees, better than nothing, adequate football and cricket grounds. Good to have a facility. Town needs the facility for sport, walk/excercise use, pool.
It needs a facelift, looks old and run down. Sports grounds need better drainage for football. Needs attractive club rooms and pools and better destination playground.
Needs attract people and become a destination to walk and hang out like the Victoria esplanade in Palmerston North.
Make use of the river and tree resource and make walkway longer and nicely landscaped and planted so it’s worth while going there for a walk. Link it to the other other green space tracks such as Holmewood park.
Include an on site cafe, something like a miniature train attraction, flying fox, landscaped gardens, include bbq area and picnic table area.
i would like to see it attract people and become a destination to walk and hang out like the Victoria esplanade in Palmerston North.
Include a cafe and attractive landscaping for walkway/gardens.
Features like Hamilton gardens but continue to include quality sports grounds. Hot house garden or butterfly house attraction.
Joining green corridors together with the other existing pieces in morrinsville such as Holmwood park river section.
Suggest linking along river be done as first stage then cafe/landscaping.
Seems like a lot of effort and resources are directed to upgrading matamata facilities. Is this at morrinsville expense? Morrinsville is closer to Hamilton and should be made more attractive to people moving out from Hamilton. Morrinsville needs quality community facilities.
Personally we are from a bigger city and have met many other families who have moved here from larger centres, all have said morrinsville has potential to be the next fielding ( won the best small town for several years).
Latest news about this project
New pop-up pump track arrives just in time for summer
Blessing marks opening of Morrinsville Recreation Ground perimeter path
Morrinsville Recreation Ground perimeter path opens Thursday 16 November
Morrinsville Recreation Ground river walk upgrades
Morrinsville Recreation Ground perimeter path well underway
Frequently Asked Questions
Over the last few years we’ve been approached by a number of groups or individuals wanting to do various activities at Morrinsville Recreation Grounds. One of the challenges has been a lack of an overall, long term community vision for the space.
When we recently consulted on our Parks and Open Spaces Strategy it was clear that Morrinsville residents were passionate about ‘The Rec’.
When we consulted on our 2021-31 Long Term Plan, there was strong support for developing a long term vision to guide future development and use of the grounds.
