Councillors questioned a proposal to remove three trees and provide more seating when proposals for upgrading Earnslaw Park came before the Queenstown Lakes District Council yesterday.
Baxter Design Group's principal, Paddy Baxter, presented draft designs which aimed to increase the functionality of the space, which had not been upgraded since 1993.
He said there there was a potential for more seating if three willow trees were removed, since people tended not to sit under the trees, because it was colder.
The designs recommended three willow trees be taken out and two trees planted in "a better space".
The council had budgeted $78,334 for turf renovations and an additional $545,705 to upgrade the toilets on the park, and Mr Baxter said the majority of the pavers could be recycled into the new design.
He said the "biggest bang for your buck" would be to remove the willows and install popular raised seating areas.
Cr Simon Stamers-Smith said too much concrete would dissolve the park feel.
"At the moment, when you walk in Earnslaw Park, you know you're walking in a park ... but if you convert 25% of the grass to concrete ... it just seems to me that you are going to lose the charm."
Committee chairwoman Cr Cath Gilmour agreed and said the council did not want to lose grass space in an urban area.
The public will be consulted on the draft plans before they are discussed further at the next community services committee meeting.
