Revitalised English Park officially opened this Sunday

20 March 2003

English Park’s new stadium and soccer pitch will be officially opened by Mayor Garry Moore this Sunday 23 March at 11am.

The public is invited to attend the opening as well as the two soccer matches that will follow at 11.30am and 2pm.

Christchurch City Council’s $2.8 million re-development of English Park was completed in June 2002 but the new pitch was not available for play until February this year.

While the Park is being leased and maintained by Mainland Soccer as a centre for local and regional soccer, the new stadium contains a number of community facilities including a community meeting room, a function room and spaces for a small caf é and gymnasium.

Usage of the community facilities will be overseen by the English Park Management Committee, which includes representatives from Mainland Soccer, the St Albans Residents Association, St Albans School and the Shirley/Papanui Community Board. One of the aims of the Management Committee is to hold at least one community function on the Park each year.

A major benefit of the new development is the increased connection between St Albans School and the Park, in particular the improvement it has made to access to the school.

English Park’s popular Saturday morning market remains a fixture in the upgraded carpark, which can now also be used for playing basketball and netball.

Opening up and enhancing the Park’s natural waterway has made the area more picturesque and created a haven for ducks, which is proving popular with young visitors.

Fletcher Construction Ltd was the lead contractor in English Park’s re-development. Taggart Construction undertook the earthworks on the site and the Council’s City Solutions Unit took on the project management role. The stadium was designed by City Solutions and Common Ground Ltd.

The first game after this Sunday’s opening will be a National Youth League match between Mainland and a New Zealand Under 17 side. A Southern Trust National League match will follow between Canterbury United and Dunedin Technical.

Entry to the Park for those staying to watch the matches will cost $5 for adults. No charge for children under 16.

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