Queens Wharf = Queens Park

This TV3 picture tells quite a story.... which I suspect some will want to forget.... the red gates holding them back.... The main point of this posting is to underline what Auckland learned about its waterfront during the Rugby World Cup. We learned that Aucklanders will flock to their waterfront when they are invited. Over one million visits to Queens Wharf during the RWC event.

But we are Third World in our waterfront public planning. Planning emphasis is either the cruise ship economy (cruise ships barely visited during the RWC - they gave cruise tickets away toward the end) or the Port Company or Real Estate. Pretty much what you expect in Third World ports.

We have learned that Aucklanders will celebrate their waterfront, come and spend money at their waterfront, come and have fun at the waterfront, become attractions in themselves on the waterfront. Someone said to me on RWC opening night, "I didn't know there were so many Tongans living in Auckland...." We don't see our Tongan population in Auckland Central much because we don't prioritise their needs. We talk about vibrant pacific culture in the words in our visions, but we don't match those words with actions on the streets. Queens Wharf's RWC use should give us a few ideas. (Auckland's Tongan population is about 40,000 people, Samoan 100,000)

On Sunday 12th September 2010 a couple of Chinese warships came to visit Auckland. They tied up at Queens Wharf and I was amazed at the level of interest from the local community. Queues all the way back to the Red Gates. For a couple of days. There were big crowds when a pair of Korean warships came around the same time. These happenings give an inkling of what could happen on Auckland's international waterfront. If only Auckland's planners and councillors could be persuaded to see what is happening around them. And to share the waterfront love.

Even this New Zealand Car Rally event. Very colourful and interesting while it was happening...

This family from Samoa loved its time on Queens Wharf. With the recent uncelebrated Greenpeace history of Marsden Wharf, its own history, and the history of Auckland itself, Queens Wharf is Auckland's Queens Park. But not a terminal. Not another loss of public amenity and public opportunity to private interests. Not compromised by cruise ship infrastructure, but supported by infrastructure for visiting events, and for visiting ships. Queens Park is a city central waterfront park for Auckland.

Serious Public Space Provision

Here's my daughter and a view from the Sapporo Tower, Sapporo, Hokkaido, Japan. You can see Odori Park stretching into the distance. It is located in the heart of the city. Odori Park is about 100 metres wide and 1600 metres long. It is a fantastic public space. An example for Auckland to consider. Sapporo is a new city by Japanese standards. Building started around 1850. Population now is approaching 2 million.

This google image shows the streetscape where Odori Park is located. The street layout is notable - classic grid pattern.

Yellow oblong indicates the outline of Odori Park. The area of this space is about 160,000 square metres. By way of comparison Queens Wharf is 25,000 square metres in area, and the section of Quay Street closed off for Rugby World Cup celebrations was 16,600 square metres. Odori Park is full at certain times of the year in Sapporo for regular events.

This sequence of photos was taken as I walked from one end of Odori Park to the other on a recent Sunday morning. Early, so not many people about yet. It was autumn, but the flowers were out...

People were out walking their dogs and admiring the gardens and generally promenading.

This urban park is intersected by streets which cross it an intervals. Families were out for a walk and breakfast.

There's nothing quite like a fountain. Auckland's waterfront needs a water feature. WindTree is a start. In the background of this photo you can see the Eiffel Tower imitation where I took the distant shot of Odori Park

Behind this pic of the fountain you can see an example of the sculpture that decorates and embellishes this city park.

Great background for those family shots as the kids grow up...

Places for memorials too, and places for activities of all sorts and shapes and sizes...

...activities like this unusual video project where random people stood against a fluttering background and addressed the camera... very Japanese...

Parts of the park are leafy and shaded.

This part contains a stage and theatre with seating for casual audiences. All sorts of seasonal events and festivals are scheduled in this wonderful people place. And I mustn't forget to mention the very good public toilets.

Paved open spaces for more exhuberant running around too - and apparently the making of snow statues in winter...

....and more of the same... no retail outlets demanding money, no cars parked in sight (but great public transport connections just outside the park)... it's an urban park...

There were many quiet corners with bronzes and other artwork for the explorer, and the curious...

And great places just to chill, read the paper, and plug in the IPOD...

Walking a bit further we come to the children's playgrounds to die for (not to be built on at a later date...). This was a very popular slide. An artwork in its own right.

It was colocated with another sort of slide. Almost ceramic material. Long lasting. Very slippery. A challenge for kids and parents. Popular...

As you can see...

Traditional playground equipment had its place also...

Lots of people come by bike to enjoy this park. How about this family machine - a 3 seater - each with a helmet...

I quite liked the old ladies. All gardners. Admiring the plants. And there were some unusual gardens and plants. All nicely signposted...

Remember - all these photos are in the same Odori Park. Sapporo. This is special bit of wood and forest. Quiet and still in the city...

And every now and then you get reminded of the long Japanese history and culture...

OK. Now for something a little different. This map shows Odori Park. But it also shows another feature of Sapporo. That's the river that runs through the middle. Sapporo is not a "waterfront city", but it's got a wonderful river waterfront. You can see a bit of it on the right of this Google Earth shot. These last few pics take you there...

OK. So here's my daughter on her bike. Leading us to the river park...

Along the pavement, across the crossing. This is the Munich Bridge by the way - sister city....

Through the bike gate over the flood stop banks and down into the river bed...

Great cycle paths down there by the way. Super smooth...

It's an amazing park. Slap bang in the middle of the city. Steps on either side which can be used any day it's not flooding...

Interesting concrete finishes on the river banks in some sections. But mostly great swathes of seating. This bunch - in the distance - having a BBQ Japanese style...

See what I mean....

You can really get lost down by the river. But so much informal surveillance from the river bank. One of the safest cities in the world...

Great places to sit and watch the river....

The group I was destined to meet with my daughter set up their BBQs in the middle distance...

Very sociable. In the middle of the city...

And a good time was had by all. Father bonding with daughter over Japan style BBQ...

And then home again on the bike. I was keen on these bronze fishes. So were the Japanese. They were even fishing in this river. I've put this blog up because it shows what a city the size of Auckland can do if it commits to central city public space commensurate with its population. We have the opportunity in Auckland of providing this kind of "World Class" public space on our CBD Waterfront. Or we can fill it up with buildings and cruise ships. I know what I'd like to see.

So. Here's our waterfront. The Quay Street Park - Auckland's equivalent of Sapporo's Odori Park - is shown here in the yellow rectangle. To just past Captain Cook wharf it's about 1500 metres long. But only about 30 metres wide (the width of Quay Street). A total area of 4.5 hectares. We need to make the most of this space. And not enclose parts of it into a canyon of buildings. Give Auckland a sense of space. And it needs to be connected to a Queens Wharf Park (area 2.5 hectares) that is an addition to Quay Park. Quay Park and Queens Park and Wynyard Park. That would show class, and commitment to a quality public park on Auckland's waterfront.