Cornwall Park, Auckland facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Cornwall Park |
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One Tree Hill near the heart of Cornwall Park
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location within Auckland
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| Type | Park open to the public owned by Cornwall Park Trust |
| Location | Epsom, Auckland, New Zealand |
| Area | 670 acres (270 hectares) |
| Created | 1901 |
| Operated by | Cornwall Park Trust |
| Status | Open year round during daylight |
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Cornwall Park is a huge park in Epsom, a suburb of Auckland, New Zealand. It sits right next to Maungakiekie / One Tree Hill, which is another famous park. Together, these two parks create one giant green space that's about 670 acres (271 hectares) big!
This park is full of history, with ancient sites and wide-open fields. You can find peaceful spots, tree-lined paths, and even sports fields for tennis and bowls. There's also a working farm that helps teach city kids about farm life.
Sir John Logan Campbell, a very important person in Auckland's history, gave this park to a special trust on June 10, 1901. He had lived in Auckland since 1840 and was the mayor at the time.
He named the park Cornwall Park to honor the Duke of Cornwall and York, who was visiting. This Duke later became King George V. A few weeks later, the nearby Alexandra Park was named after the Duke's mother.
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How Cornwall Park Began
The Land Gift: A Park for Everyone
Sir John Logan Campbell gave the land for Cornwall Park to a special group called the Cornwall Park Trust. He set up this trust to make sure the park would always be there for people to enjoy. At the time, the park was described as "two hundred and thirty acres of the finest land." That's about 93 hectares!
Campbell had bought a much larger area of land, about 1100 acres (445 hectares), near One Tree Hill many years before. He originally planned to build his home there and planted many trees for it. However, he later decided to live closer to the city center in Parnell.
The park's land also includes areas outside the main park. These areas are leased out to help pay for the park's care and upkeep. This way, Cornwall Park can stay free for everyone to visit. Sir John Logan Campbell's legacy also continues to help charities and community groups every year.
Who Looks After the Park?
The Cornwall Park Trust Board manages the park. Their main job is to make sure the park is a place for "recreation, enjoyment, pleasure and instruction" for all New Zealanders.
For many years, the trust also helped manage the One Tree Hill Domain. However, since 2012, the local Māori tribes (Ngā Mana Whenua o Tāmaki Makaurau Collective) have taken over managing Maungakiekie/One Tree Hill Domain.
Designing a Beautiful Park
A young landscape designer named Austin Strong helped plan the park's layout. He was inspired by the famous Golden Gate Park in San Francisco.
Today, the park's design is still carefully managed. Experts from a landscape architecture firm in New York work with local New Zealand designers to keep the park beautiful.
How the Park Stays Free
To help pay for the park's maintenance, Sir John Logan Campbell made more gifts of land in 1907 and 1908. These extra lands were leased out to create income. These gifts brought the total area within Cornwall Park to about 477 acres (193 hectares). When combined with the nearby One Tree Hill Domain, the total park area became about 607 acres (246 hectares).
The money the trust earns from its properties helps keep the park running. This income is also exempt from income tax, which means more money can go directly to the park.
Park Rules: No More Golf or Horse Riding
Years ago, some activities like horse riding and golf were allowed in the park. However, these were later stopped. Horse riding caused damage to the lawns, and golf was seen as a danger to the sheep that grazed there.
It was also decided that golf wasn't an activity available to everyone. So, the golf clubs that used the park had to stop.
Cornwall Hospital: A Wartime Story
During World War II, from 1942 to 1945, Cornwall Park played an important role. It became a site for temporary barracks and a hospital for the United States Army.
A large hospital was built in just over six weeks during a wet winter. It had 122 separate buildings and could care for 2,000 patients!
After the war, these hospital buildings became Cornwall Hospital. It included maternity facilities and a hospital for older people. All these buildings were taken down in 1975. A hospital for blinded ex-servicemen, built nearby, still exists today as an events venue called Sorrento in the Park.
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Fun Things to Do at Cornwall Park
Cornwall Park is a fantastic place for many activities! You can enjoy the beautiful scenery, have a picnic, or watch the birds. It's also great for walking, jogging, or bicycling. Just remember to keep your dog on a leash! You might even see ewes and their lambs grazing in the fields.
The park also has special areas for organized sports and activities:
- Tennis: You can play at the Campbell Park Tennis Club.
- Cricket: The Cornwall Cricket Club is based here.
- Rugby union: The Grammar Carlton RFC team plays here.
- Rugby league: This is the main office for the Auckland Rugby League.
- Archery: The Auckland Archery club is in the neighboring Maungakiekie/One Tree Hill Domain.
- Lawn bowls: You can play at Carlton Cornwall Bowls.
- Parkrun: Join the parkrun New Zealand events for a fun run or walk.
