Parks and Reserves Asset Management Plan
Council owns and manages a wide range of parks and open spaces that protect Nelson’s biodiversity, heritage, river and coastal areas. The presence of reserves in and around the city also encourages active lifestyles, bringing health and wellbeing benefits and providing for a variety of outdoor recreation activities.
The Council manages 11,250 hectares (ha) of parks and reserves, which represents over a quarter of the Nelson region’s land area. The majority is held in the Brook, Roding and Maitai Conservation Reserves, which together total just over 10,000ha and are rich in native (including endemic) species and ecosystems. Nelson’s reserves also form the green backdrop to the city which is very much a part of the Nelson reputation as a green and beautiful part of the country.
The Parks and Reserves Asset Management Plan guides Council for the next 10 years in its provision and management of parks and reserves to provide open space that meets the needs of the community. As well as setting the framework for how Nelson’s parks and reserves will be managed and maintained, the plan identifies where new parks and walkways are needed and looks at future open space needs as a result of population growth and changing trends in recreation.
Nelson’s open spaces include:
| Open space type | Primary purpose | Number | Area |
|---|---|---|---|
| Public Gardens | Preserving heritage plantings, botanical display and accessible for passive recreation | 7 | 18 ha |
| Neighbourhood Parks | Accessible informal recreation close to home, primarily for play and social interaction and enhancing the amenity of residential areas | 98 | 83 ha |
| Sportsgrounds | Organised sports such as football, rugby, cricket, tennis, bowls and athletics and providing larger areas for informal recreation | 12 | 121 ha |
| Conservation Reserves | Water supply catchment protection, biodiversity and heritage conservation, providing opportunities for informal recreation such as mountain biking and walking | 6 | 10,269 ha |
| Landscape Reserves | Protecting the city’s back-drop and landscape characteristics and providing high-quality opportunities for informal recreation | 12 | 461 ha |
| Esplanade and Foreshore Reserves | Protecting waterways and the coast, and providing ecological linkages and walking/cycling corridors between the city’s open spaces | 31 | 282 ha |
Download the Plan
The Parks and Reserves Asset Management Plan 2018-28 was adopted by Council on 20 September 2018.
Parks Reserves Asset Management Plan 2018-28 (8.1MB PDF)
Copies of the plan are also available to view at Council offices and libraries.
Contact
For more information please contact the Parks and Facilities Asset Planner on +64 3 546 0200.