Smart’s Pit to Kyle Park
Smart's Pit rubbish dump
Kyle park today, with stormwater development on the right, bmx track central, and in the distance cricket and rugby fields.Smart’s Pit was operated by descendants of the original firm until 1968 when the 7 hectares of land was bought by the Paparua County Council for use as a centrally located rubbish tip. In the early 1970s it was proposed to rehabilitate the pit into a sports amphitheatre, laid out with terraces descending to fields three or four metres below the level of Waterloo Road. The park was named Kyle Park after Paparua County Councillor Colin W A Kyle who was chairman of the Reserves and Recreation Committee for many years.
An adjacent block (1.7 ha) was bought by the Council in 1974 to add to the Park. However difficulties were foreseen in maintaining the terraces using gang mowers, with stormwater drainage, disposal of sewage from pavilions, and the prohibitive cost of earthworks needed to achieve a satisfactory surface. Instead it was decided that a more feasible alternative was to fill the pit to roughly the same level as the adjoining road and level it for sportsfields.
But because residents were likely to strenuously object to reopening the tip for household refuse, and there was no obvious source of cheap fill available in the quantity required, this option too became impractical.
The future of Smart’s Pit became so problematical that at one point in 1977 the Council considered selling the property altogether. But even this option was rejected because the value of the land was limited by its unsuitability for building (the land will continue to settle for years after the dump is sealed as organic material below decays).
The Council therefore had little choice but resolve to develop the area to sportsfields and passive recreation, but since little money could be spared, development was seen as ‘long term’. Although dumping of household refuse ceased officially in the 1970s, intermittent dumping of both hardfill and household refuse continued until 1981 when the earthmoving contract was let to level and shape the landform to its existing contours. A useful quantity of silty water race spoil was spread over part of the reserve to improve growing conditions.
Hockey field
The sunken hockey field at the eastern end of Kyle Park was developed as early as 1973 and is now irrigated. A row of eucalypts planted along the eastern boundary now form an effective screen, obscuring a cluttered warehouse yard on the adjacent property.
Junior rugby fields
One junior rugby field was in use by 1981 and the second, which was sown with a special drought resistant turf, was developed in 1989. These are positioned in the central area of the park
Cricket oval
An artificial cricket wicket was laid down in 1989 for the Hornby Cricket Club. The full sized cricket oval shares the turf with the junior rugby fields.
BMX track
Approval was given in 1980 for the development of a BMX (Bicycle Moto Cross)
Track. This was constructed for the Christchurch City BMX Club by volunteers which included members of the Hornby Rotary Club who followed up in 1982 with tree planting in the western end of the reserve. The club hosted their first New Zealand Grand Final BMX Championship at Easter 1985. At big events like this several hundred cars may be parked on the grass in Kyle Park itself. A toilet block near the BMX track is unlocked for use during club events. The track was relocated in 2001 due to a stormwater holding pond development. The track was moved from the westernmost area of the western hollow to the eastern half of the same hollow.
Off-road model cars
Council approval was granted to the Christchurch Off-Road Model Car Club in 1986 to build a small track and stand in the sheltered hollow next to the BMX track. Their facilities were completed by 1989, however the Club is now defunct and the track has been removed from the area.
Compiled by Stephen P. from various sources. Please contact the Hornby Online Team if you have more early history to add.
