A&P Pavilion builds to a 7 November opening

A&P Pavilion has a hard deadline. Come rain or come shine – lately, there’s been a lot of the first – the new building will be ready for use in the first week of November.

That’s the pledge from Robert Hutchinson, parks and open spaces officer for Marlborough District Council and project manager for the construction at A&P Park. He said so at the build site in the presence of Jane Tito, parks and open spaces manager (i.e., his boss) and Councillor Cyril Dawson, whose portfolio includes sports facilities.

Along with the Sunday farmers’ market, the park in Blenheim along Maxwell and Alabama Roads is home to the Marlborough A&P Association and Marlborough Football. The 2026 A&P Show is set for 7 November.

“That’s the pressure they’re under,” the project manager said firmly as unseasonably biting winds lightly howled. He referred to the construction crews, but the implication extended to Council staff, too.

Wet weather put the construction about a week behind schedule, Robert estimated. With the foundation poured, though, he expected crews to catch back up in short order.

Even if the “official opening” needs to happen later than the A&P Show, it will be open to the public then.

Plans
The single-story facility will replace a half-century-old, two-story building by the Maxwell car park. The parks manager explained that the 2016 Kaikoura earthquake got the ball rolling.

“It’s about time,” the councillor remarked, noting that he has a sporting history at A&P Park dating to 1982, as does Robert. In the interim, projects refreshed Lansdowne Park across town, Picton’s Endeavour Park, Renwick Domain and Seddon Domain.

The new pavilion will house both the A&P and sports groups with offices, changing rooms, rest rooms, and a glass-walled communal room. All will span a single level, Jane said, because experts on recreational facilities advised Council that “people feel more open coming in” when a building has one floor versus multiple.

The two-story structure will come down to make more room for parking. In addition, the old changing room along Alabama Road will come down, replaced by a new one that will supplant the old bleachers next to the historic sheep pavilion.
Overall, the project manager explained, “We tried to replicate what we’ve got.”

His boss indicated there are “no dramas” financially; costs so far are within budget (total earmark is just under $6 million).

“We’re super excited,” Robert concluded, “and we hope everyone else is.”