One step closer to the realization of our dream – a new outdoor swimming pool in Edgeware! Thanks a million to the Canterbury Community Gardens Association (CCGA) for their generous support. It’s a magical thing when two community groups come together to back each other’s kaupapa.
So far $3,450,000 has been raised for the rebuilding of Edgeware Pool. However, this funding has been tagged for the actual construction while the immediate need is for funds to complete the necessary documentation – plans, resource consents etc.
On Saturday 2nd March we added another $765 to the coffers through the Harvest Bus Tour hosted by the Canterbury Community Gardens Association. Little by little we’re getting there. Drop by drop!
The CCGA/SAPP fund-raising tour began at Kohinga Mara – the community garden attached to the St Albans Community Centre. Here the St Albans Resident’s Association provided croissant and conserves with hot drinks in pretty china to set the tone for the day. From here the Bentley Coach took 50 travellers to 9 very different Community gardens all over the city – from the University to Smith Street Community Farm and the Linwood Community Garden where we had a scrumptious lunch under the shade of their huge leafy trees. After kai we visited the Climate Action Campus on the site of Avonside Girl’s School where former Mayor Vicki Buck met the bus and like the pied piper led us through the market throng to the Campus garden. This is a place that deserves to be revisited at more leisure. Eventually, and in due course we arrived at Brighton Community Garden where Lin took us on a tour that included the inspection of the fish composting facility and the Sensory Garden. On the way home, guitarist Roz with her beautiful voice led us in a sing-song down memory lane. Rachel gave us each a plant to take home – the weather was still warm. It was a lovely day.
There is no doubt whatsoever that the closing of the Edgeware Pool in 2006 exacerbated the shortage of recreational facilities for local children in St Albans. I remember being very involved in the development of Packe Street Park and Community Garden at that time and realizing how many of our local children didn’t get a family holiday or even odd days away to the beach during the long school break between Christmas and the new term.
Indeed the Packe Street Park Committee wrote a submission at that time asking that the old pool not be demolished on account of its amenity value to our locality. With all this in mind we thank the Canterbury Community Garden Association for supporting our effort to see the pool rebuilt this year. Further fund-raising effort and individual donations will be 100% welcome. If you can help, contact [email protected]
Peggy Kelly