New mural, a reminder that rebuild facilities are for every body

A new mural at the Metro Sports Facility site was unveiled today in celebration of International Day of Persons with Disabilities 2015.

The mural, on the corner of Antigua St and Balfour Tce, was developed by Karl Rolling-Sun and a group of young people of all abilities, with the support of the Earthquake Disability Leadership Group (EDLG), the Cube and CCS Disability Action. It was unveiled by Minister for Disability Issues Nicky Wagner.

The theme of the mural is “Inclusion Matters: Access for all in Christchurch”.

EDLG Chair Ruth Jones says the mural will be an ongoing reminder of the need to involve disabled people in Canterbury’s rebuild and for new facilities to be suitable for everybody.

“The Metro Sports Facility fence is the perfect place to exhibit the mural as the new complex is intended to be fully accessible for people of all abilities,” she says. “It is a particularly exciting project for many disabled people, who have found it harder to get to an accessible swimming pool since the earthquakes.”

Ms Jones says the EDLG has had regular discussions with the Christchurch Central Development Unit (CCDU) about the accessibility of the complex and at this stage is confident that the Metro Sports Facility will be designed with people of all abilities in mind.

CCDU director Baden Ewart says public input into anchor projects such as the Metro Sports facility is vital in developing facilities that suit the community’s needs and last the distance. “I am thrilled that Karl and his team have shared their artwork on the site. It is fantastic to see this level of community ownership.”

The Metro Sports Facility is set to be open in March 2020, with the design process beginning soon. At the moment, the public is being invited to give ideas on the leisure pool area of the complex at www.ccdu.govt.nz/metropools. The consultation closes on Sunday 13 December.

ENDS

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