Combined Hillary Court and Walter Mildenhall Park Upgrades - Naenae
Naenae young people are showing tremendous leadership in the unique Hillary Court and Walter Mildenhall Park revitalisation project now underway in Naenae. A group of young people, aged 14 to 20 have since May been working with a Hutt City Council Project group in planning and preparation work to revitalise there area. The projects form part of the Naenae Community Development Plan which has the aim of building capacity in the Naenae community.
Aesthetically, the aim of the project is to improve the physical appearance, safety and functionality of the two areas, but by incorporating the projects into the Naenae Community Development Plan a second potentially more important opportunity arises to involve the community, especially young people, in Naenae in the development of their neighbourhood, all the while encouraging positive interaction between different groups.
This process started through a town meeting for young people led by an experienced Youth Facilitator, Michael O’Mara, based in Melbourne. From that first meeting Council staff have been meeting young people fortnightly helping them first dream then plan how they would like their town to look. As the project has progressed the youth -now known as SMB’s (So Much Better)- have assumed more responsibility. Council have committed $400,000 to the project and an experience project team oversee the SMB’s activities but it remains very much a youth led project that will offer in its final design the vibrancy and creative flair of the city’s young people.
Right now, the SMB’s are preparing to take their first ideas out into the community to talk to local retailers, community groups, other local businesses and users of the areas to find out what their ideas are and to talk about how together they can make Naenae So Much Better.
The project is to continue over two years and includes opportunities for local schools to incorporate activities into their curriculum. At this level, a project like this has never been tried in New Zealand, by trialling this in Naenae it is hoped that the young people who choose to be involved will develop an increased sense of ownership of their neighbourhood.