Green Corridor ready for festive launch celebrations tomorrow

Council contractors and staff have been busy making the most of the spring weather to put the finishing touches to Rotorua’s new Green Corridor, ahead of tomorrow (Thursday 8 October) afternoon’s official opening.

Many residents and tourists are expected to be out in force in the afternoon to take part in the community celebrations for the new pathway through the inner city.

Special guests at the celebrations will include the Dutch Ambassador Rob Zaagman and his wife Monique, United Nations Global Compact Cities Programme officials Ralph Horne and Elizabeth Ryan, and NZ Transport Agency representatives Niclas Johansson and Natalie Dixon

Whether on bikes, trikes, scooters, skates, skateboards or on foot, locals are being urged to roll up to the Arts Village in Government Gardens at 4.30pm ahead of the official launch and community parade.

After a brief ceremony to formally open the Green Corridor around 5pm, Mayor Steve Chadwick and the Frocks on Bikes group will lead the parade out on the Green Corridor route along Hinemoa Street.

Participants will then wind their way along Tutanekai Street, through the Night Market, and down Haupapa Street to Kuirau Park where the parade will conclude. Throughout the inner city parade-goers will be entertained by Rotorua’s Highland Pipe Band, the Rotorua Racco Taiko drumming circle and ukulele quintet The Thermaleles, and at Kuirau Park by contemporary dance group AMJAZZ and Cuban dance troup Dance 2 Inspire.

After the parade, many are expected to find their way back to the Night Market for an evening of food, fun and more entertainment.

The nearly two kilometre Green Corridor, which stretches from Government Gardens, across the inner city and through Kuirau Park, connects with cycling pathways east and west of the city. Funding for the project has been shared between New Zealand Transport Agency and Rotorua Lakes Council, and the corridor has been developed in conjunction with the Inner City Focus group and Cycle Action Rotorua.

Motorists and parade-goers are being asked to be extra careful and to be patient while the parade is underway as some short delays are likely.

Meanwhile people using the new Green Corridor are also being reminded that regular road rules apply at road crossings along the corridor - meaning cyclists and other users are required to give way to vehicles. With green paint recently applied to identify road crossing points, many motorists have been slowing down and giving Green Corridor users a friendly wave to cross. While this is welcome courteous behaviour the green painted areas are not legal pedestrian crossings so normal road rules apply.

ENDS

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