Blake Park's central carpark is receiving an extra 131 spaces in time for the upcoming AIMS Games, with Tauranga City Council rubber-stamping modifications to its plan for the site yesterday.

In four months' time more than 7250 intermediate-age students will participate in the annual week-long championships in September, with council expressing need to develop parking resources for the site beforehand.

The grassed area behind the Bay Cricket Trust Pavilion, where a 128-space carpark is outlined. Photos: Tracy Hardy.

Concept design for the area.

Presented to Tauranga City councillors yesterday afternoon, the Blake Park carpark project update shows the intention to develop a new access road into Blake Park from the Kawaka and Miro streets' corner into a new carpark immediately adjacent to the new Bay of Plenty Cricket Trust Pavilion.

TCC recreation and facilities manager Kiri Pope says along with the new 128 parks, realignment work on the entranceway by Mount Maunganui Sports Club will make the area more user-friendly.

The change will see three extra carparks added, from 58 to 61, spread between the existing carpark and a new single bay carpark on the grass bund opposite the sports club.

'That access road change is partly to address issues around the Mount Maunganui Sports Club and the entrance road at the moment, where in some ways people are driving into it,” says Kiri.

'Logically, they should be going through the carpark, but a lot of people drive the wrong way down the entrance road.”

TCC's modified plans follow previous elected members asking council only to proceed with part of the carpark at this stage.

The report highlights the importance of starting construction as soon as possible, to have works completed prior to September's AIMS Games and the upcoming international cricket in October.

Kiri says tenders for the carpark construction closed June 5 and are currently being evaluated by project managers. It's expected the tender will be awarded by June 20.

Blake Park's key users were provided opportunity to contribute to final design of the access road and carpark and are being kept informed of process with a Blake Park User Forum on tomorrow.

The entrance way off Kawaka and Miro streets, where realignment work will take place.