Sunday afternoon saw Tauranga's Red Square transformed into a giant chalk garden with children, parents and passers-by stopping to draw cabbages, flowers and giant cacti.

Colouring Book C.I.T.Y organiser Lillybeth Melmoth and her volunteers drew large outlines on the cobblestones. The public were invited to colour them in, or draw their own garden creations with chalk supplied, and help finish the garden.

'We had 76 names on the welcome survey forms,” says Lillybeth, tallying up the numbers.

'After setting up the book reading area, I turned back around to find the whole length of the 'garden' filled with people drawing! It made my heart swell to see people of a wide range of ages and cultures enjoying what I'd created.”

Yesterday was exactly 4 months since Lillybeth had the idea for permanent painted outlines in parks and public spaces, 'that this series of pop-up 'CITY' events came from”.

Lillybeth Melmoth reads Uncle Glen's Cabbages.

This first outing for Colouring Book C.I.T.Y (Colouring in Tauranga Your Way) used art inspired by NZ children's author Garry Carter, and his book ‘Uncle Glen's Cabbages', which was illustrated by Tauranga artist Sharon O'Callaghan.

Sharon also painted Memorial Park's Humpty Dumpty.

The event included spot prizes, stickers, chalk and a storybook time with Lillybeth reading the story of ‘Uncle Glen's Cabbages.

Colouring Book C.I.T.Y was made possible with support of Tauranga City Council Communities Scheme and sponsorship by local businesses.

'We weren't prepared for how many people arrived early or at the very start!” says Lillybeth.

'So we have a few tweaks to make for next time but I think our volunteer team - the CITY council - did a fantastic job and we're planning for our next event January 20.”

This was the first event for Colouring Book C.I.T.Y. with the next two planned for January and April next year.