Western Springs Lakeside Park
After it losing its role as water supply, Western springs was for a time neglected. It became overgrown, and served as an illegal dumping ground for rubbish.
In the 1930s, the council found a new use for the land. ‘Roughing it' was all the rage among tourists, so the City Council opened a motor camp here. Right up until World War II, the campsite was hugely popular, with the roaring of lions from the nearby zoo adding to the wilderness feel.
Once the War began, there were more pressing needs. The park was converted to a site for new housing, as well as a camp for American soldiers. The wartime buildings were demolished in the 1950s, and Auckland City Council planned an entertainment complex for the site, including facilities such as a theatre, a funfair, and an ice skating rink. However, lack of funds saw the project shelved. Instead, the Council's focus moved to caring for the area's natural values.
The park now comprises 26 hectares of gardens, wetlands, lake, rehabilitated native forest, and open space. Notably, it's also the venue for the annual Pasifika Festival - the South Pacific's largest Pacific islands community event.
