Bruce Pulman Park in Papakura has secured a $500,00 operating grant for the next three years.
Home to several Papakura sporting codes, the park plays a significant role in the town’s life, while also attracting regional and national events, Manurewa-Papakura ward Councillor Angela Dalton says.
“The park has facilities dedicated to multiple sporting codes and now a $500,000 Auckland Council Sport and Recreation Facilities Operating Grant to the Bruce Pulman Park Trust will contribute to the running costs of a park so many of us benefit from,” she says.
The grant is part of $3.2 million in support to 15 organisations serving more than 20 codes, with Bruce Pullman securing $100,000 in year one, and $200,000 in years two and three of funding.
“Having multi-year funding provides financial certainty for the trust over the next three years,” Dalton says.
As deputy chair of Auckland Council’s Planning, Environment and Parks Committee, which administers the grants, she says increasing participation in sport is a major focus.
“Many of those funded are grassroots groups. The grants support their fantastic work in our communities. It’s a significant investment that supports affordable access for our people.”
Funds are offered to organisations to use for their ongoing operations, so they can continue to offer sport at a local level.
“The grants support facilities that need subsidies to sustain operations. We’re proud to support non-council owned facilities that need a hand with their day-to-day operations, and which ensure we have a dynamic sport and recreation network.”
In total, 37 applicants requested more than $10 million from an available $3.2 million. Council staff reviewed the applications before an independent panel made its decision.
Dalton says it’s an involved process that uses an independent panel to ensure fairness and accountability.
“Bruce Pulman’s people have worked hard to secure the best outcome they can for the park and locals during a fiscally constrained environment. Next time you sweat it out on the fields, spare a thought for the hard work it takes to ensure you can do that.”
The world-class park offers a gymnastics and trampoline facility, a multi-purpose indoor arena, outdoor netball courts, sand-based and grass fields, cricket ovals, and a multi-use team sports building, while also offering walking paths and sports accommodation.
In the late 1980s Papakura District Council bought the land, but the trust leases it from Council to provide amenities. Its philosophy is that everyone, irrespective of age, gender, physical ability or nationality, can use the park.
A list of those funded is here.
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