Artificial Turf Opening

Before I talk about this incredible development I want to remind and perhaps introduce everyone to a little history behind this park and this development.

Alexander Augustus (Alex) Moore was born in 1882 and is probably the best known sporting name in Johnsonville. Alex Moore's legacy to our community - this park, was huge and can't be lost or diluted under the dust of decades past. His name deserves "moore" and we're committed to maintaining this community leader's legacy some 60 years since his passing with a whole of park experience Johnsonville deserves.

It is heartening therefore to see the development of this artificial turf on Alex Moore Park and the whole of park landscaping. This state of the art surface and walk areas will change the landscape of this parks use and perhaps even more significantly allow enjoyable passage for recreational walkers, "rest" for our grass fields and a "guarantee" that any event scheduled will take place.

So, we have this field and some lovely landscaping. Many thanks WCC. What more do we want then?
For those that know Alex Moore park, I am here to remind you that this field is an umbrella wrecker. There's no shelter on the side-lines here. When you are a side-line supporter at this park you bring the gear or you suffer during those very infrequent "northern and southern wind blasts". We all know that we need something that schools can shelter in while using these fields, we need something fit to support this park and we need something that isn't past it use by date.

The Alex Moore Development or Sportsville Project was founded about seven years ago by a large group of local residents and sports clubs who'd become concerned about the state of Alex Moore Park's degraded facilities.

About four years ago our Board was formed with the aim of creating a facility that would support this park and act as a community hub. We now have resource consent to build on the park and we will shortly be leading the fund raising process. No easy task - unless we win Powerball Lotto.

One of the key drivers for the Board has been Johnsonville youth. This area and its immediate neighbours in the Northern Suburbs contains one of Wellington’s fastest growing youth on our backdoor. They/we need a whole of park experience. In other words we want to "build Johnsonville's Active Heart".

If anyone wants to assist or know more about the project then Google Alex Moore Park or go to www.alexmoorepark.org.nz My thanks again to WCC - we have the field, now we want "moore".
Hadyn Smith
Alex Moore Park Development Board Chairman