Kowhai Park stories and photos wanted

FEILDING residents are to be immortalised in a series of signs planned for the town’s historic Kowhai Park. 

Manawatu District Council is seeking captivating stories and photographs from park users and their descendants, with the best of them likely to be reproduced on interpretive signs with directional signage that will stand inside the park grounds. 

Permission may also be sought from submitters to produce some of the stories and photos in local publications. All contributions will be entered into a draw for an appropriate prize.  

“We’re looking for wonderful images and those big personal or public moments that involve the park in some way,” said Parks and Reserves Manager, Albert James. “We want to know if you – or your grandparents - played cricket, or some other sport, at the park in a spectacularly exciting encounter. Or perhaps you met your true love at the Valentine’s Day concert!” 

Mr James said the initiative stemmed from council’s desire to celebrate the way people had used and enjoyed Kowhai Park since its inception in 1881. 

He said the sign creators were interested in using photos from the park’s earliest years, major sporting events, concerts and festivals, the 2004 flood, the annual influx of monarch butterflies and any other noteworthy moments.  

“We all know the park has excellent amenities, but it’s really about the people who use it,” said Mr James. “An awful lot has happened there since the days when Feilding’s early residents used to roll up in their horse-drawn carts for Sunday picnics.” 

One of Mr James’ favourite tales involves the boy who unearthed an old cannon in the park in the 1950s and was trying to drag it away when the park keeper spotted him.  

“He’s still around, that bloke,” said Mr James of the now-grown treasure hunter. “I see him in Feilding and he keeps asking me, ‘when are you going to give my cannon back?’. Wouldn’t it be every boy’s dream to find a cannon?”

Entry of photos and stories can be forwarded to Bob Williams, MDC Communications Officer, PO Box 10-001, Feilding, or by emailing bob.williams@mdc.govt.nz