In the Long Term Plan, through our Parks & Open Spaces Strategy 2021-51, and through Pride of Place you told us you want additional walking and cycling connections to make it easier to get around our towns. 

What's been done so far

Council agreed to take a 'slow but steady' approach to this, and is continuing to acquire additional linkage parks in new subdivisions in Matamata and Morrinsville.

Matamata

We chose to focus on walking and biking connections in Matamata and used Transport Choices funding from Waka Kotahi to to test some ideas including a bike route, crossings and other improvements with the Bike Day Out and a month long trial during February and March 2023. 

Check out the Walk and Bike Matamata project page for details on the routes that were tested and the feedback from the community

Morrinsville

During 2022 we opened the extension to the Morrinsville River Walk between River View Road and Studholme Street. The extension links Holmwood Park right through to the Rec grounds, creating a 3.3km long trail.  

We also worked with the Morrinsville community on a master plan for the Morrinsville Recreation Grounds . This plan provides the overall vision for how the Rec will be developed - with strong feedback from the community that we should prioritise developing a walkway for pedestrians and cyclists

What is happening next?

Matamata

We’ve removed the trial infrastructure for walking and cycling routes (except the speed cushion pads on Centennial Drive) and are analysing the community feedback on these.

We will use this feedback to inform further trials or plan permanent changes. Check  the Walk and Bike Matamata project page for updates on this project. 

Morrinsville

We are planning to implement the perimeter pathway that was identified in the master plan for the Morrinsville Recreation Grounds. This will involve new shared pathways and upgrading of existing pathways along the perimeter of the Rec Ground.

It will also include a new 3m wide path from Lorne St to Avenue Rd South and improvements to the  existing Rec Ground riverwalk to make it more accessible for all users. 

Accessibility

We're also planning a number of accessibility upgrades over the next 12 months in all three of our town centres. These will include footpath and kerb upgrades, tactile ground surface indicators (like bumps at a crossing) and improvements to crossings around the district.