Western Park performance space

Proposed performance space at Western Park. Auckland City Council has constructed a small informal outdoor performance space for Western Park. The design offers park visitors a place to relax while enjoying views of the planted gullies of the park. It provides a new feature within the park, by creating a space for small performances and also an area for people to use and enjoy for passive activities including sitting, reading, picnicking and relaxing.

The performance space is a small-scale development designed to complement the natural ambience of Western Park. The site was selected because:

it has a natural amphitheatre form
it is some distance from the traffic noise of the road
it is adjacent to a major pedestrian route within the park
there are two lights within 30m of the space
it is 55m from the nearest adjoining landowner.

Features of the $60,000 design include:

Artists impression of what the performance space
will look like.

a circular timber deck, linked to the existing path network via asphalt paths with basalt-sett edging
using an existing grassed amphitheatre for informal seating
three bluestone benches set into the slope for those not wishing to sit on the ground
using the park's existing large trees for shelter
using materials that complement those used in the park's Hopetoun entrance lookout which was completed in late 2001. These include:
- macrocarpa decking
- bluestone
- copper detailing
- asphalt with basalt-sett edging.

The performance space accommodates small local events in the summer months, for example small acoustic music performances, outdoor shows by theatre groups, wedding ceremonies, use by school groups, art classes from Artstation and temporary art exhibitions. The space functions as an informal relaxation area for the majority of the time.

Other points about its usage include:

the timber deck is small with a diameter of approximately 5m, limiting the use of the space to small groups
Auckland City Council monitors the usage, type and frequency of bookings for the space, which is limited to four per month during the summer.

Site maintenance occurs several times a week in conjunction with the maintenance of Western Park and includes:

regular applications of an anti-graffiti and wood preservative coating
removal of graffiti
collection of litter
regular grass mowing

Designers created plans for a versatile, easily maintainable performance space with minimal impact on Western Park's unique landscape.

Aerial view of Western Park performance space

Landscape proposals

1. Timber deck with copper detailing.
2. Bluestone benches set into the slope.
3. Existing grassed amphitheatre.
4. Asphalt access path with basalt sett edging.
Note: All materials to match those used for the Hopetoun Lookout.

In March/April 2005, Ponsonby residents and visitors were invited to comment on the draft plans. Suggestions included establishing a booking system to limit the size and frequency of events in the performance space. This has been incorporated into the final plans.

The concept design was endorsed by the Western Bays Community Board at their 15 June 2005 meeting and approved for implementation by the Arts, Culture and Recreation Committee on 6 July 2005. The Committee also decided that the performance space should be named after former Councillor Betty Wark.

Construction was completed in 2006.