Eileen Beach-Kelly recalls the times when she was one of the local children who benefitted from this.
Te Aro Inlet (the area crossed by the causeway in Wallis Street) was governed by floodgates to control the tides at desired times. The gates were designed in England and were installed at a time when it was expected that Raglan would have its own railway line, with the station situated opposite the Dairy factory.
Raglan required a recreation ground so the flat swampland at the bottom of Long Street was drained into Te Aro Bay, forming a flat gathering area (now the tennis courts and rugby field) and the paddling pond. There was also a substantial playground at Puriri Park, complete with plenty of seating for parents. The area was further enhanced by the presence of privately –owned boat sheds built on one side of Te Aro Bay, from which flat-bottomed rowing boats were launched.
Eileen recalled that the A & P Show and horse racing events would attract large crowds of visitors to the town. On such occasions, the floodgates were used to keep the high tide in. The estuary was attractive, with none of the swamp grasses seen there today. There was a wonderful and welcoming ambience as children enjoyed the safety of a paddling pool. The bottom of the pond was soft and sandy and the water never got much deeper than knee-height, with no deep channels or tidal rips.
There was abundant bird life in this area, and Eileen remembers the children feeding the birds their picnic crusts. She believes that many of them dispeared once the causeway was widened and the floodgates were removed. (She was heartened to hear that this writer regularly sees clusters of up to six kingfishers, as well as other bird life in this area now!).
More recently, Eileen suggested that the Council might like to consider the construction of a boardwalk around this area, and do some native planting to attract bird life. What a great idea that is!!
She recalls this as a welcoming environment and one that afforded both the children of Raglan, and visiting children, many safe and happy hours of water play.
