Masterton Council Sports Grounds Survey
Make sure you have your say about the district’s sports grounds. The Masterton District Council has started consultation before making any long term decisions - but be quick and let them know your thoughts as the survey closes on November 4th. Let them know if you think the grounds are good, or need upgrading or more maintenance, or whether the district could do with more sports fields.
Frankly, it’s a typical airy-fairy council survey which will tell them very little about the sporting community’s real issues. There are questions like which facility you like the best (ie pick a favourite), and is Wairarapa lacking any facilities - which is only a yes, no, or don’t know answer, but no space for any details. There is one box for general comments so you’ll need to fill that one in with all your thoughts.
They’ve clearly aimed at people who “participate in sport and/or physical activity” so presumably it’s ok to fill it in if you walk your dog but not if you go along to watch your grandchildren play or for all those people I see simply picnicking in a park? I’m not convinced that those who came up with these questions regularly visit the parks or regularly go to watch any sports. And, I really don’t know if questions about where you live, your age, gender or who you identify as, have any relevance at all.
I’m not allowed to complete the survey as I don’t “participate” but some of the comments I’d make include:
Are there any plans to install or upgrade lighting at any of the parks so teams can train in winter evenings?
Any plans for a football turf?
Are the charges for using grounds too high?
The netball centre is only busy in the short netball season; should it be altered in some way so that it gets more use?
Is Masterton’s top senior artificial cricket wicket (at Park Sports Ground) up to standard?
Are there enough senior cricket pitches?
Why are the toilet facilities at Park Sports Ground always closed and why only one toilet near the Queen Elizabeth Park entrance when there used to be two (and a lot more than that years ago)? Is it any wonder I see so many people urinating at those two parks in particular.
Does anybody ever enforce rules and/or is tasked with picking up the dog waste left on so many parks?
I did reach out to the Strategy Team at Masterton District Council who said they were happy to answer a couple of questions about the survey, however they haven’t yet responded to my written queries and since there are only a couple of weeks left for anyone to complete the survey, I've gone ahead and published.
There is more information on the council’s website, you can pick up a survey form from the Service Centre on Queen Street, Waiata House or the library, or there is an online version here: https://whatsup.mstn.govt.nz/masterton-sport-and-recreational-facilities
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