Newspaper Article – A Poppelwell on Splash Planet

A Poppelwell on Splash Planet

Fantasyland founder Harry Poppelwell would have been proud to see grandson Stuart Poppelwell taking part in Hastings’ new fun park development, Splash Planet.

Stuart has just completed his final year at Havelock North High School, and is training to be a lifeguard at Splash Planet during the holidays before embarking on a Bachelor of Technology at the Central Institute of Technology, Wellington.

He said yesterday his grandfather had always strived for something unique for Hastings and believed he would have been proud of the fun park upgrade.

“I think he would of thought it was about time,” said Stuart. “If he had the millions of dollars back then Hastings would have been different today.

“I think Splash Planet is really going to work for Hastings and attract a lot of people into Hawke’s Bay like Granddad would have wanted,” said Stuart.

Mr Poppelwell, MBE, died in 1988. He had approached the Hastings City Council in 1962 with plans to turn 20 acres in Windsor Park into a pleasure garden after visiting Tivoli gardens in Copenhagen, and then Disneyland.

The council did not accept his proposal, so three years later Mr Poppelwell produced a model of a five-acre children’s playground, Fantasyland.

Over the following three years $27,000 was raised by a Queen Carnival, and another $8000 subsidy from the lottery.

He was also behind Greater Hastings in the early 1950s, Hastings Blossom Festival, and the Hastings Highland Games.

Stuart said he has been training with 25 other Splash Planet lifeguards in Clive, and would receive training at the waterpark next week.

“He (Granded [Grandad]) loved doing things for the community.

“Splash Planet is going to be fun place to work. I am really looking forward to it,” he said.

Photo caption – Mr Poppelwell takes quick preview over his new domain, at Splash Planet yesterday.