News a multimillion-dollar upgrade to St Kilda’s Marlow Park could end in the extinction of the beloved slide led to a dino-sized backlash which spread from social media to national media outlets.
But critics have labelled the reaction premature, pointing out no design had been finalised and one of two options presented included retaining the dinosaur, while the other proposed building a new one.
The issue emerged at a Dunedin City Council workshop on Tuesday, and councillors have been quick to stake out their positions on the debate.
Mayoral runner-up Cr Andrew Simms, so moved by the plight of the concrete sauropod that he slid down its neck on national TV at dawn yesterday, was firmly in the nostalgia camp.
It was important the council did not ignore the emotional connection many people had to it and ‘‘his longtime friend’’, Marlow Park’s concrete whale.
‘‘The dinosaur and the wider ‘dinosaur park’ is etched in the memories of generations of Dunedin people.
‘‘Many commenters recalled playing on the dinosaur as a child, later taking their children to the park, and now taking their grandchildren to the park.
‘‘These structures can be refurbished and repurposed to give decades more delight to generations of Dunedin people, rather than being smashed up and buried at the Green Island landfill.’’
Cr Simms was joined on team dinosaur by Crs Russell Lund and Jo Galer, whose email exchange on the topic hit headlines when Cr Galer accused a colleague of a ‘‘playground beat-up’’.
Cr Galer said the public’s reaction was because people ‘‘love their dinosaur park just how it is’’.
Cr Doug Hall said the park’s dinosaur theme had legs but welcomed a new, better dinosaur.
‘‘The dinosaur is clearly loved, and I understand that. A lot of people have childhood memories tied up in it. But I am very disappointed that good decision-making is being hijacked by adult nostalgia.
‘‘That is how cities end up preserving things for the wrong generation, instead of building what children and families actually need now,’’ Cr Hall said.
He also believed the debate was separated from the reality of the situation, as the council had not signed off on a final design and options included keeping the slide or replacing it with a ‘‘new inclusive dinosaur slide’’.
‘‘So the idea that there is some finalised plan to wipe the dinosaur from history is not accurate.’’
Cr Steve Walker said the issue was a ‘‘storm in a teacup’’ that detracted from the detailed work done by staff to create a playground everyone in the city could be proud of.
He blamed the public reaction on the media and the actions of a few councillors and called on everyone to take a ‘‘deep breath’’.
Dunedin Mayor Sophie Barker backed a ‘‘face-lift’’ for the park, which she hoped could reflect loved existing aspects while creating new experiences.
‘‘We all know that dinosaurs are very cool, and I think our one is too. I’d love to see the dinosaur honoured in the new design.’’
Perhaps the dinosaur theme could be preserved in an upgraded playground through, for example, murals rather than play equipment, he said.
He suggested ‘‘childish behaviour’’ be left for the playground, not continued around the council table.
‘‘We are simply talking about a slide here and if relocating [or] refurbishing the existing dinosaur slide is the same price as a new cooler, bigger, longer, faster version, I know what the children would vote for.’’ — Staff Reporters
Slide users have their say
At Marlow Park yesterday afternoon, parents overwhelmingly wanted to keep the dinosaur.
Michelle Wyatt, of Dunedin, said the dinosaur slide was such a ‘‘drawcard’’ for children that everybody called it The Dinosaur Park, rather than Marlow Park.
‘‘We come here all the time and that slide is busy all the time. Kids love it.
‘‘I think they should be adding more great things, not taking away some great things to add new things. There’s heaps of space here for new things and keeping the old as well.’’
Ben Latu, of Dunedin, said he took his son to the park frequently, and was worried any changes to the park may make it less popular for children.
‘‘It’s been around for a long time. My son, he loves the dinosaur.’’
Ten-year-old Taylon Halverson, of Morrinsville, said he had been to the park on a previous visit to Dunedin, and it was his first port of call on his return to the city yesterday.
‘‘I like the dinosaur slide. It’s really fun and everyone likes it.
‘‘I’ve been to parks all over Auckland and they don’t have anything like this there.’’
Esther Devaney, of Dunedin, was ‘‘definitely’’ in favour of keeping the dinosaur.
‘‘I remember the dinosaur as a child. I think it’s an iconic piece of Dunedin’s history.
‘‘Make it safe, do whatever you have to do, but keep the dinosaur.’’
