The Zirka Circus came to town and left its mark on Memorial Park, offering a lasting impression for some nearby residents.

The circus packed up on Sunday night and Monday morning after performing in Tauranga for two weeks.

The rainy weather has resulted in tyre tracks and dislodging of mud on Memorial Park.

The pack-up involved shifting heavy equipment, caravans and trucks – and the vehicles involved have left deep imprints in the park's grass.

A concerned resident, Shirley, who does not want to give her last name, says the park has been just left in a 'disgusting state”.

'There is mud tracks form one end to the other – the grass is just ruined,” says Shirley. 'I've never seen such a mess, it was a lovely park. I think it is disgusting that they have just come into out park and ruined it.”

Shirley says she saw hoses coming from the caravans excreting waste into the storm water drains during the circus' stay and the tractor removing the big top has destroyed much of the park.

Tauranga City Council parks coordinator Nick Stewart says a member of his team has been down to the park to inspect the damage, finding most of it to be superficial.

'A little bit of work will need to be done, such as levelling out the soil, but it is really minimal,” says Nick.

'Also, the area the circus was on is also the access point of the Tauranga Rowing Club so it has already had a bit of wear – so once you get a bit of rain in the mix it is just one of those things.”

Nick says events such as the circus come to Tauranga every year and in these instances every event has to pay a bond to the council to use the park, covering the costs of such damage.

'They sign a user agreement, so they have expectations to keep it clean and tidy.

'We anticipate this kind of damage with these events so if there is any work that needs to be done it gets taken out of that bond.”