Gleeson Park kept beautiful by Napier Central School

In 2009 Napier Central School approached Napier City Council wanting to adopt a green space. Gleeson Park on Hospital Hill was suggested as a good option. Back then, the park was badly overgrown with dangerous trees, dumped rubbish and it was a gathering place where people carried out anti-social behaviour.

Napier City Council and OPUS developed a new plan for the park. After the space was cleared of its dangerous and unsightly features, the students of Napier Central School began maintaining the park by picking up rubbish, planting native trees, and watering and tending to the plants.

Napier Central School teacher Liz Perry says, “In 2013 we launched an art installation at the park. Each year, all Year 6 students design and make a terracotta clay tile to be installed along the Hooker Avenue fence line. Our students love to spot their designs as they walk past.” 

“Usually Gleeson Park is looked after by our Year 4 – 6 students, but this year all our students joined in by laying grit on the tracks, adding mulch to the plantings and placing new plants between existing trees,” says Liz.

“This fantastic community collaboration has been very satisfying for the students, staff and their families and it means that Gleeson Park is now more attractive, safer and the native birds have come back!”

4 August 2020

Back to Stories