The Victoria Esplanade — Attraction in Palmerston North

They've really tried hard to do well at this place, and I can't fault them for trying but i still leave this place wanting more. It's not too bad but nothing special. Being the only proper garden park in the town it needs to up it's game a little better. Mini golf is supposedly coming so that's a bonus if it does. I'd like to see the whole playground upgraded, front to back - it needs a complete overhaul. The bird avery needs to be removed and if they're serious about some small wildlife here, redo the enclosures and keep them looking healthy and open, filled with animals or birds. Too many poor enclosures with nothing in them. The pool beside this area is a bit of a joke.

The new entrance is well received and the train is still a hit with the younglings. I appreciate the work done on the track over the past decade.

Walkways around the trees could do with a spruce up, widening of tracks in places, laying of hard surfaces, clean up the weeds and broken trees and open the bush up a little. A sidewalk from the carpark toward the little pond is needed.

Speaking of the pond, that also needs some work done.

Palmy isn't the best town around but the esplanade is the best garden park that it has and would really raise the impression of the city if work was done. It would be nice to dive head first into the area with a bit of funding and really make it shine.

There is tremendous potential here, but alot more work...

Recycled bins everywhere which is really important in a public popular place. Thankfully, we had a beautiful sunny day to visit. The awesome train was happing, full chugging along. The amount of walkers about the place, people respectful for one and another. Was almost a Bridgerton of 2024! 😄 On the road part however, even though they were sign posted, not everyone is able to share the road. The exit road was closed off, so you needed to return the way you came in which left very little space to share and the cars coming at you who DIDNT read the signs. Felt they had the right of way. Even when the bells were going off for the train, the cars felt that they dont need to give way, thus teaching bad bad habits to not only them but their passengers as well. All bit of a Shame really. If signs were inserted saying, 'It's a legal requirement to uphold the road rules in this park' then there maybe a better response. Apart from that everything about the park was tidy, clean, humming with people and birds, it's a very cool park/place...

This place has very fond memories for me and was lovely to visit while in Palmerston North for Christmas. Everything looks great, except the birds in the prison like cages. Seeing the Cockatoos alone in concrete cells, one in a dirt corner digging a hole, obviously trying to escape, made me cry. Now I live in Australia, where it is a joy to see these intelligent, social birds in the wild. Keeping them in such terrible conditions for people to 'look at' is archaic and cruel. I will be doing all I can to bring this issue up until you do something about it. I also witnessed a woman kicking a duck with one leg and yelled at her to stop! Are there people in Palmerston North who CARE about these birds? If so PLEASE, take action! Also sad to see the garden for the Blind and Deaf gone. A very...