A new public park and playground is close to completion in the Pembroke Terrace residential subdivision nestled between Cardrona Valley Road (CVR) and Ballantyne Road.

The formation of the new recreational reserve includes a shared pedestrian/cycle path which will connect CVR to Ballantyne Road via Avalon Station Road and Frederick Street.

The park’s playground and picnic area is constructed on a terrace above the subdivision’s stormwater hub creating a landscaped and lighted reserve over one hectare.

Hundreds of homes are under construction or already completed in this area but there is only one access road, Avalon Station Road beside the Medical Centre, creating a cul-de-sac.

“All the traffic has to go in and out near the medical centre,” Pembroke Terraces project manager Iain Weir said.

Project manager Iain Weir is asking locals to come up with a name for Pembroke Terrace’s new recreational reserve, due to open before this winter. PHOTO: Wānaka App

Eventually Avalon Station Road will be extended to connect to Ballantyne Road near the Claas Harvest Centre, he said, but for now the three metre wide shared pathway will be the first direct connection for cyclists and walkers to Ballantyne Road. 

The path will also connect to other residential developments, including Tussock Rise and Alpine Meadows, making the new public park central to many families in these new developments, Iain said.

The park is on track to be opened before winter, he said, and will eventually be vested in Queenstown Lakes District Council (QLDC) to manage.

This fenced concrete path at the end of Frederick Street, beside Kai Pai bakery, connects to the new public park in Pembroke Terrace. PHOTO: Wānaka App

After viewing the park’s development last month, QLDC councillor Lyal Cocks said he was impressed by the multi-purpose use of the land and the quality of the new amenity.

“It’s a clever use of the land with shared paths, a playground and recreational reserve incorporated with substantial stormwater infrastructure,” he said.

“Its centralised location in the heart of these residential subdivisions, and high standard of amenity with extensive planting and lighting, means a very good outcome will be achieved for the community.” 

To date, the park has no name.

“We obviously cannot call it Pembroke Park, but I’d like to think someone in the community could suggest a name,” Iain said. 

Pembroke Terrace subdivision was granted resource consent in 2021 to create 124 residential lots over 11.72 ha of what was rural land (farmed by the Gordon family). With Stage 6 recently consented, the number of lots has expanded to 143.

Iain said there is no plan to extend Gordon Road to provide vehicular access to CVR, via Avalon Station Drive. 

Instead, Pembroke Terraces is creating a shared path for pedestrians and cyclists connecting the subdivision with Gordon Road which will provide “a short cut” for people to access Gordon Road from CVR, he said.