Harling Park

Last Modified: 6-3-2024 18:07

Harling Park, with an area of just over six hectares, is  located in the southern Blenheim suburb of Witherlea, with entry via Howick Road, Solway Drive, or via the Wither Hills Farm Park. It has a large Japanese themed area, built as part of a sister city project to represent the relationship between Blenheim and Tendo and Otari in Japan.

The Japanese contribution to the park was designed by Tendo City Council staff, and made possible by local donations, a grant, and volunteer effort. A landscaped garden, waterfall, pond and pagoda are some of the features of the park. The Japanese gardens were officially opened by Marlborough Mayor Alistair Sowman on 20th May 2005, in the presence of a Japanese delegation, including architect Takahisa Yamaguchi from Tendo.

The lower lying sections of the park can become waterlogged, and concrete drainage channels help remove excess water. The park provides a landscaped catchment for runoff from the Wither Hills and helps protect houses on the Wither Rise from fllooding and erosion during heavy rain. The northwestern part of the park has extensive native plantings near the entrance to the park. A steep, grassy hillside that forms the western boundary of the park is popular with children for use as a grass slide, utilising  old flattened cardboard boxes as toboggans.

The park is named after former Blenheim mayor from 1962-1977 , S. P. Harling.

The majority of the park, with the exception of the Japanese Garden, is dog friendly, with dogs allowed to exercise off leash.

Toilets are located at the Howick Road entrance to the park.

Cite this page

Harling Park. (2024) Retrieved April, 25, 2024, from https://www.marlboroughonline.co.nz/marlborough/information/recreation/parks-and-reserves/harling-park/