Potter Children's Garden To Be Officially Opened  

The new Potter Children’s Garden at Hamilton’s Parana Park will be officially opened later this month.

The play area, which dates back to the 1960s and has been undergoing an upgrade since February, will be officially opened by Hamilton Mayor on Wednesday, 18 April at 1pm. The public event will also include a blessing and kapa haka performance, as well as children’s entertainment such as face painting and stilt walking.

Mayor Hardaker said: “This development has breathed new life into one of our city’s most popular play areas, and we are grateful for the generous support received from principal sponsor Potter Masonic Trust, as well as contributions from WEL Energy Trust and Southern Trust to make this upgrade possible for the benefit of families in Hamilton.”  

The upgrade of the play area has seen the inclusion of a strong kowhai theme, including a kowhai leaf‐shaped viewing platform looking over the Waikato River, a kowhai seed‐shaped 300‐jet fountain and a slide shaped like a kowhai flower.   Other features of the installation of paths with varying surfaces and obstacles, tui chick and egg interactive sculptures, a small amphitheatre and playhouse, as well as
the extension of the previous water feature.

Michael Pope, Chairman of the Potter Masonic Trust, the principal sponsor donating $200,000 towards the garden’s upgrade, has welcomed this addition to the now six Potter Children’s gardens and playgrounds located in Hamilton and Auckland.

In 2005 the Trust was also principal sponsor of the Potter Children’s playground at Tauhara Park and even earlier in 1997 had given $3,000 to the Hamilton Playground Trust to assist development of a creative sand play area in Parana Park giving access to all children including those confined to wheelchairs.The Potter Masonic Trust, he said, was pleased to be involved with further development of Parana Park some 15 years later:  “It further demonstrates that New Zealand Freemasons contribute to the welfare of young New Zealanders as well as the elderly.”