No stadium but lush grass back

Green grass is again thriving at Lancaster Park, with its community sports fields set to open in April – a year after work to convert the fields started.

The project has seen contractors remove the foundations of the former central Christchurch stadium, transport in thousands of truckloads of gravel and soil and construct a pathway around the park.

Lancaster Park will have three fields set aside for the likes of rugby and football during winter, and enough room for a cricket pitch in the summer.

The Christchurch City Council now wants to hear from nearby residents about what else it should have.

Previous plans have suggested a playground and half basketball court, while a sports pavilion and toilets could also be built on the site.

‘‘We particularly want to know what the local people are keen to see included,’’ the council’s head of parks, Andrew Rutledge, said.

‘‘While the community spaces will need to work around those already set aside for formal sports and the existing heritage gates on Stevens St, there are spaces for smaller elements throughout the park,’’ he said.

The council plans to hold four drop-in sessions between February 3 and March 5. People can also submit their views online.