Residents Jade Coster and Elaine Slater have been leading the Livingstonia Park Beautification Project for the past year, aiming to enhance the park as a “vibrant, welcoming community hub for all ages”.
Mrs Coster said the project began by sourcing funding to buy the shed outright for the community.
The group then bought a generator to install power and lighting, and the most recent stage involved commissioning noted Dunedin street artist Koryu to enhance the shed’s exterior.
“We wanted to make it a creative space for the community to enjoy, where they could attend workshops to create their own art," Mrs Coster said.
“The end result is a mural inspired by our natural landscape," she said.
"A story beginning in the ocean with our seal catching fish, round to a child fishing at the river mouth and finally we move up into the native bush of the river track," Mrs Coster said.
Further creative events had taken place in the shed during the past year, some led by Koryu, she said.
"We have a great wee following of local people who kept turning up each time. There are further plans for the park’s continued development and we’re excited about what it will look like in another year’s time."
Coastal Classic committee member Dave Oshry said the event had been delighted to be among several contributors to the project.
"We see upwards of 500 people at the event each year, from across the country, so it’s great to be able to show off our community at its best."
"Koryu has been amazingly generous with his time. It’s a big deal to secure his talents for this project."
Mrs Coster thanked all those who had contributed to the project — costing about $13,000 to date — and said fundraising would continue towards further phases of improvements.
