Newspaper Article – Fantasyland ‘must retain balance’

Fantasyland ‘must retain balance’

Any future development of Fantasyland must retain a balanced blend of commercialism within the park, the Hastings City Council’s director of parks and recreation, Mr John Mills, said yesterday.

Mr Mills reported on his views on the future of Fantasyland to the parks and recreation committee.

He said Fantasyland’s uniqueness depended on retaining the park-like atmosphere so that the area would always cater for family groups.

When approving any extensions of new projects the council must endeavour to retain the balanced blend of commercialism within the park, thereby ensuring that operating costs were minimised but with an ultimate objective of having Fantasyland financially self-supporting.

Mr Mills said any new developments needing to expand beyond the present boundaries should first involve property along the Sylvan Rd frontage.

If the growth of Fantasyland during the next 10 years should continue at the present rate, the whole of Windsor Park would become occupied by it, he said.

The Windsor Creek offered great potential and officers also planned to more fully investigate a children’s farmyard area.

Private interests in New Zealand were now becoming involved in the boom in leisure activities in such things as fun parks.

The council needed to keep a close eye on such developments as in many ways they would be in direct competition with Fantasyland.

Fantasyland’s special park-like setting and careful blend of commercialism were the ingredients of its appeal and the council must retain this atmosphere as it was something the private enterprise ventures could not hope to obtain, he said.

Cr Trevor Baker said he felt the report was excellent but if the council hoped to retain the Government help, which since 1967 had amounted to about $1-million then the park must not get too commercial.

If the taxpayer did not subsidise the park then the onus would be on the ratepayer, which would inevitably lead to entrance fees of about $5 or $6.

Cr Baker said he could see the day when children had to pay to get into the park and it was a fact of life with which he was unhappy.

Charging people to use some of the attractions inside was acceptable but to charge people to enter a park where they would then spend more money was not on, he said.

People could walk down Marine Parade in Napier and enjoy the surroundings and were then at liberty to spend their money on attractions they wished to get involved with.

But it goes against the grain to charge people an ever-increasing amount to enter a park such as Fantasyland so people could then spend money on the attractions offered, he said.

The mayor, Mr J. J. O’Connor, said the ratepayers in the city had already paid $300,000 toward the park and whatever new attractions were offered, someone had to foot the bill.

He said he felt it was better to charge a price that would at least make the park self-supporting.

Mr O’Connor said he did not think the $1 entry fee for adults was excessive and as long as this only increased along with inflation it was value for money.