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?
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I have only recently moved to the area, so I haven't had a chance to visited often.
But I really appreciate the river walk and trees primarily.
Good fields and wide open spaces. Access to public toilets and clubroom facilities. Swimming pool access. River Walk.
A shared use walking/cycling circuit of the grounds, safe from traffic, a good surface for kids bikes and runners. A kids bike skills area, pump track, mini road circuit. Gym equipment.
A community group hub, groups like The toy library, MenzShed, Saturday Market etc could all be included into a mutli-use facility. This could be co-ordinated with the Tennis club room.
A Frisbee Golf course would attract Waikato based players as this is becoming more popular without many good local courses.
A rethink of the layout of the sports fields i.e. location of cricket pitches, fences, to accommodate more sports and utilise field space better. Current field clubs Football, Cricket, Frisbee, (was League)
The clubroom facilities and pool change rooms should be improved, not just upgrading what is there in its current layout but rethink the building spaces and look at how these could be best combined or co-ordinated (cost, security etc).
A year round indoor pool facility.
The Recreation Grounds should become the Health and Wellbeing Hub of the greater Morrinsville area.
Health - sports, exercise, swimming facilities. playground
Wellbeing - Community groups, outdoor community events, cafe, fresh air and clean space, community garden?
Having a greater level of activity and more reasons for people to want to use the grounds, which are an amazing asset for the community, will mean things like security, and the feel of the place will be more attractive and it will make the investment worth while. It needs to be a destination for people to spend a day with activities and a place with food and drink to relax. If people are around then the issues of stray dogs and vandalism will be reduced.
large open space will mature trees and ability to exercise away from traffic
Heated pool at swimzone open longer. More trees and picnic areas away from sports fields. BMX track. Upgrade to tennis courts. quality play ground. Extend the riverwalk through to the Holmwood park lake.
It would be nice to have a better connection between town and the rec ground for easy and safe access between the 2. utilising the additional land alongside the railway track would help.
River walk and swimming pool
Shelters and Built in bbqs for family time where the can play games and enjoy the outdoor facilities.
The waterway clean, we used to swim.ithe after holes as kids bit the colour is disgusting now.
Clean the waterway, we used to swim.ithe after holes as kids bit the colour is disgusting now.
Family friendly affordable place for all the community to enjoy.
In Australia they fave water play parks which are free. They have built in gazebos, grass field to play games. You take a picnic and it's affordable family fun entertainment. We have the space for this.
Something everyone can enjoy.
The size of it and what it could be if it was done right & don't over do it to please everyone
I had a measure up of the polo ground and there is enough room to relocate the rugby there (3 fields) put in a 400m running track grass to start with and the idea 5-10 years make it an all weather track that will also double as the 4th rugby field in the middle of the track. The track is for the Morrinsville Athletics Club. There is also enough room for grand stand for the rugby and still more room to put 2 x hockey all weather fields.
Build a new swimming complex on a new site with other sporting complexes. The old swimming complex to be used as new netball / tennis courts the old tennis club to go into cricket and soccer. If the rugby felids go in then the grass cricket pitch can be moved to make a bigger felid.
To bring clubs together with amalgamation to make clubs bigger and stronger and better for the town.
There is a lot of history at the rec and some times history repeats.
Swimming pool
swimming all year round
Swimming all year round
Pool covered and swimming all year round
swimmiing all year round
Swimming pool
swimming all year round
Swimming all year round
Pool covered and swimming all year round
swimmiing all year round
The beauty of all of it. From the trees to the expansive grounds. I especially like and have been a high user of the river walk
I would like a fenced in dog area to help keep dogs under control and those who are using the rec for other purposes don't feel threatened by dogs. I know there is only a few dogs who would fit the uncontrolled label. I am a dog owner myself but feel somewhat scared when other dogs come bounding towards me when on my own without my dogs. When I take my son to soccer, we are having to constantly wash dog poo off our shoes. An obvious fenced in area would minimise this.
Stop cyclist/ Mountain bikers using the river walk, it's becoming a huge issue with youth overtaking the track and speeding around. There are a lot of elderly walking groups who frequent this area and you risk losing these and other users. A dedicated area for biking would be fine with signage, preferably up top under trees, not ruining River walk and river bank planting
Continued walking track to link up to Oak Street and Holmwood Park. Easy access to water for kayaking and dog swimming.
Upmarket hireable venue with wide windows and deck overlooking pools and fields suitable for weddings, birthdays, cultural events, visiting schools etc.
Larger car park to ensure sports users and campers fit, it's fairly limited currently.
Love that you've given the community a chance to share our thoughts. Cheers.
It is a large space easily accessible to all and is never busy.
It is a large area which is under-utilised.
Approximately one half of the area is the Polo Pitch which is rarely used and only caters to a very small minority.
The polo ground could be easily and cheaply redesigned as an area of cycle tracks which would cater for all age groups from very young to elderly. Easy and cheap plantings would be low maintenance and could also serve as walks.
This area is under-utilised. Local residents are sometimes loath to park vehicles at the Cureton St. car park. There seems to be no resistance to parking at the Avenue Rd. entrance.
It is a large space easily accessible to all and is never busy.
It is a large area which is under-utilised.
Approximately one half of the area is the Polo Pitch which is rarely used and only caters to a very small minority.
The polo ground could be easily and cheaply redesigned as an area of cycle tracks which would cater for all age groups from very young to elderly. Easy and cheap plantings would be low maintenance and could also serve as walks.
This area is under-utilised. Local residents are sometimes loath to park vehicles at the Cureton St. car park. There seems to be no resistance to parking at the Avenue Rd. entrance.
Beautiful green place that is part of my childhood. Very fond memories of events in the past. I get a thrill to see the polo being played as this was part of my childhood. A&P shows are also part of my childhood and of recent times I have been able to re visit those memories by going back to the show. .
I would love a night market that encourages local and regional art and craft. This would give a different flavour to our monthly market. .
I would like the land between the Railway Line and the Rec boundary to be used as a walking track that has demarcations of distance so that people can be encouraged to extend themselves. Attractive groupings of seating to encourage people to sit and enjoy the view across the Rec
I would like to see more lighting to make it feel safer. I would like to see more use made of the camping ground facilities. A house for a caretaker would mean that someone was there on a regular basis to ensure that anyone using the facilities of the Rec has a sense of security.
it is buzzing with activity, used 80% of the time by groups involving a wide range of people across different demographics such as age group, gender, and ethnicities. More big events to attract different groups.
You are doing a great job. Love the opportunity to contribute in surveys like this.
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.