![Picnic Tables in Fowlds Park - 4627856301](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/2c/Picnic_Tables_in_Fowlds_Park_-_4627856301.jpg)
Fowlds Park is a small public reserve in the northern part of
Mount Albert, in
Auckland
Auckland (pronounced ) ( mi, Tāmaki Makaurau) is a large metropolitan city in the North Island of New Zealand. The List of New Zealand urban areas by population, most populous urban area in the country and the List of cities in Oceania by po ...
City.
History
![Rocky Nook Bowling Club, (Fowlds Park, Morningside)](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/74/Rocky_Nook_Bowling_Club%2C_%28Fowlds_Park%2C_Morningside%29._Auckland.jpg)
Previously an asylum endowment, the land was transferred to Mt Albert Domain Board in 1912 in exchange for Council land adjoining the
Avondale Mental Hospital. The land was first named Morningside Reserve and used as a garbage tip until the 1930s depression when it was drained by government relief workers and in 1933 renamed Fowlds Park as a tribute to
Sir George Fowlds who, as Minister of Health, had arranged the original transfer with the Council land at
Avondale.
The
Mt Albert Rugby League Club has been using the Fowlds Park grounds since before the Second World War. Other early uses of the Reserve included hockey, tennis and croquet. The Rocky Nook Bowling Club became established in the north-eastern part of the Reserve in the mid 1950s taking over an area previously used as tennis courts and croquet greens.
Description
The park is roughly rectangular in shape and of irregular topography. An extensive stand of mature gum trees line the northern boundary at the park's highest point. There are two main playing fields with a sloping bank between them. The eastern entry to the park is dominated by a memorial gateway dedicated to Sir George Fowlds. To the south and west of the gateway are a grove of mature trees and a landscaped rock outcrop.
Uses and amenities
The park has been used variously by Mt Albert Ramblers Softball Club, Auckland United Softball, Mount Albert Rovers netball club, the Rocky Nook Bowling Club and a Marching Association and
Mt Albert Lions Rugby League Club. At the western end of the park, separated from the main sports fields by a stand of poplar trees, is a smaller informal playing field. In this area of the reserve there is also a children's playground and a public coin-operated barbecue.
References
*''Fowlds Park Management Plan'' Auckland City April 1992
{{coord, -36.873991, 174.728794, type:landmark, display=title
Urban public parks
Parks in Auckland