Naish and Centennial parks, Balclutha

2017-2025

The development of the adjoining Naish and Centennial parks is a major undertaking, spanning several years, and with multiple stages. The Clutha Parks Trust was formed in 2017 to lead the development of various projects within these two parks.

Background

The Clutha Parks Trust was one of the first groups to partner with Council and step up to the challenge of re-designing a significant redevelopment as part of the Our Place Balclutha Community Plan, adopted in 2017. The Trust is made up of local councillors and community leaders,

Stage 1 work, which cost more than $1.1 million includes:

• Ongoing improvements to the gardens and green space areas
• Construction of the Clutha Vets Dog Park in 2022
• Completion of the Junior Bike Park in 2019
• Completion of stage 1 of the Centennial Park Playground in 2022.

Stage 2, estimated to cost $1M, includes additions to the destination playground. Council allocated $300,000 towards the project. Alongside was the building of the pump track completed in 2025 (more about that below).

Centennial Park Pump Track

The Clutha Parks Trust's eight-year project to redevelop Bal­clutha’s neigh­bour­ing Naish and Centen­nial Parks continues to make great progress.

A highlight was the much-anticipated opening of the nearby Centennial Park Pump Track Pump Track in the first part of 2025.

Clutha Parks Trust Chair Jared McPhee reflected on the achievements of the past three years.

"When you start these projects, especially these multiyear ones, sometimes you don't get to stop and celebrate what your group and community, and all the people and sponsors that helped you, have achieved. You're thinking about what needs to be done next.

"It's great to go down there to the pump track, to see it and the whole park in use by the community, and remind yourself of who you built it for, for parents, their children, and their children's children of the future generation."

See media:
BMX talent put new pump track to the test | Otago Daily Times Online News
PressReader.com | ‘Party at Park’ to cel­eb­rate recre­ation project mid­point

See plans:
Our Place Balclutha Community Plan - Clutha District Council