Te Puna Quarry Park volunteers are being thanked for their part in changing what could have been 32 hectares of a 'naked rock face in the hills” to a thriving park for visitors of all ages.

Te Puna Quarry Park's Ian Cross, Shirley Sparks, Dulcie Artus and Jo Dawkins. Photo by Zoe Hunter.

About 40 volunteers were treated to a cooked breakfast at the park this morning as part of the 16^th anniversary celebrations since its beginnings in 1997.

Te Puna Quarry Park Vice President and founder Shirley Sparks says volunteer numbers have doubled since 16 years ago, with 40 men and women helping with park developments.

'They are just the most wonderful people…they come from as far as Katikati, Welcome Bay and Tauranga.”

In 16 years, volunteers including Rotary and Lions groups, schools, and individuals have contributed to making the park a 'community-driven” attraction full of environmental arts including fun sculptures, plantings, a butterfly garden, walking tracks, abseiling and views of Mount Maunganui in the distance.

'What I love about it is that the children love it,” says Shirley, who says the newest development is ‘The Gallery' where the park hosts children's birthday parties, weddings and other functions.

Built about two years ago, The Gallery is funded by a TECT grant and is designed by park volunteer and then secretary treasurer Dulcie Artus.

Today's anniversary marks a very special occasion for Shirley, who has seen the park's developments across 60 years while living on a neighbouring farm.

'We've seen the development of the quarry from when it was a working quarry, through to the closure of it…and when it was this naked rock face in the hill just gradually getting completely over grown with grass…goats and possums.”

In 1979 quarry operations ceased and the Te Puna Quarry Park Society formed 14 years later. Without the formation of the society – and Shirley and her friend Jo Dawkins' decision to turn the park into a garden – Shirley says it would have been '32 hectares of waste land sitting on their door step.”