Myers Park, Auckland
| Myers Park | |
|---|---|
 The palm-lined main path, upper part of the park. | |
| Type | Public park |
| Location | Auckland, New Zealand |
| Area | 2.4ha² |
| Created | 1914 |
| Operated by | Auckland Council |
| Status | Open year round |
Myers Park is a narrow park in central Auckland, New Zealand, running parallel to the upper part of Queen Street. It is characterised by steep, grassed slopes and canopied with a mixture of large exotic and native trees, including an alley of large palm trees. Benches and artwork (including a heritage marble copy of Michelangelo's sitting Moses statue) line the paths connecting to Queen Street, K Road, Grey's Avenue and Aotea Square.
History
Running downhill from the northern slope of the Karangahape ridge, the park was formed in 1914 out of an overgrown gully facing towards the Waitemata Harbour. The gully was the start of the Waihorotiu Stream, also known as the 'Queen Street River'. The stream was temporarily used as an open sewer, but it is now completely underground.
During his time as mayor, Christopher Parr established many of Auckland's parks, such as Victoria Park, Point Erin Park, Parnell Park (now Dove-Myer Robinson Park), and much land in the Waitakere Ranges. It was during this spate of development that Myers Park was founded.[1] In 1913, the area of the gully was described as consisting of "slum shanties and rubbish tips". The very popular former mayor of Auckland Arthur Mielzinier Myers purchased the land for £9,000 and then donated it to the city. Following Myer's intentions, the 2.4ha² of the wasteland was transformed into Myers Park (being named in his honour).[2][3]
Myers Kindergarten Building
| Myers Kindergarten | |
|---|---|
 Myers Free Kindergarten building in Myers Park. | |
| General information | |
| Type | Kindergarten |
| Architectural style | Arts & Crafts architecture |
| Location | Auckland, New Zealand |
| Address | 381 Queen Street, Auckland |
| Current tenants | KiNZ |
| Construction started | 1915 |
| Completed | 1917 |
| Design and construction | |
| Architecture firm | Chilwell & Trevithick |
| Designated: | 26-Nov-1981 |
| Reference No. | 619 |
In 1915 Myers also funded the construction of the Myers Free Kindergarten. It is a prominent example of Arts & Crafts architecture in Auckland, and was designed by Chilwell & Trevithick. The kindergarten was intended as a philanthropic gift to benefit the mostly poor families of the area.[4] The building still holds a kindergarten today (KiNZ in the Park) and is, together with parts of the park itself, on the register of the Historic Places Trust.[5]
Other Historical Features
The park also contains the caretaker's cottage, one of only two Kauri buildings on Queen Street that are more than 100 years old.[6]
References
- ↑ Pollock, Kerryn. "City parks and green spaces - Later urban parks". Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand. Retrieved 8 November 2013.
- ↑ Myer's gift to the city (from City Scene, Sunday 29 October, 2006)
- ↑ Stone, R. C. J. "Myers, Arthur Mielziner". from the Dictionary of New Zealand Biography. Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand. Retrieved 8 November 2013.
- ↑ KiNZ Background (from the Kindergarten New Zealand, KiNZ website)
- ↑ "Myers Park Historic Area". Register of Historic Places. New Zealand Historic Places Trust. Retrieved 2009-12-21.
- ↑ Watson, John (9 October 2008). "Century-old kauri building in way of Q Theatre". The New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 27 October 2011.
Coordinates: 36°51′19″S 174°45′40″E / 36.855364°S 174.761217°E