By Corrina Jack
Oxford Dairy owner John Dean, who operates opposite the new park, said it's the talking point of those who enter his shop.
There had been "heaps and heaps of positive feed back from it".
A family from Wellington heading north had come into the shop to buy ice-creams and asked for directions to a nearby park to sit down and eat them.
Mr Dean said that in the past, the only place he could think of was the Weraroa Domain cricket ground. However, he can now proudly steer them in the direction of the new Adventure Park.
An hour and a half later the family returned from the park to buy drinks and to make the comment "the kids had a great time, what a great facility Levin has", before continuing on their journey, Mr Dean said.
"For a piece of land that wasn't getting used before it's certainly getting used now."
The Bakery manager Valerie Turner said, "We're asked so many times, where can we have our food?" Now we have the answer she said.
"This fits the bill. It just works out nicely."
Horowhenua Visitor Information Centre manager Sharon Whakatihi said, "It's been so well utilised by people in transit and locals alike.
"They're just absolutely rapt with it."
She said tourists passing through were now more likely to "target our district as a stop off place".
It has exceeded the expectations of park creator, Collis Blake, who said "The use and the comments of its success are very rewarding. It's much better than we expected."
He said he was "pretty pleased by the way it's being received. It's great to see it being used."
So far $250,000 has been spent on creating the park and a further $50,000 is needed to complete the existing play area.
Mr Blake said "that's all coming in steadily, quietly, bit by bit.
"I'm delighted of the way the community in general is becoming behind the effort, without being asked. We're getting help from all sorts of places." It's "pretty marvellous, quite thrilling".
Pictured at left:Levin Joggers and Walkers Club President Peter Woodgates, left, hands over $500 on behalf of the club to the Levin Adventure Park creator Collis Blake. The park has so far cost $250,000 and needs another $50,000 for its play area to be completed.