More Info →More notes on Levin Adventure Park development

Diane Denton and myself [who?] met with Helen 13th February 2013
... There were concrete foundations pipes, old paths, seats etc.
Collis had said for quite a while that something needed to be done to that piece of land, especially since it was the entrance to our town.
He and Helen decided to do something themselves and went to the Office of Treaty Management in February 2001, where this land had been banked. They knew Arnold Snograft and acquired the lease of 7 acres for 10+ 10 years at $5,000pa + GST. A trust was formed and granted a charitable trust statiliS Dennis Hanratty was auditor of the Trust. There was no opposition though lots of people thought they were crazy at the beginning.
They had a plan of the proposed layout and Stage 1 began in April 2001 and opened at Christmas that year.
Ivan Jones voluntarily did most of the removal of rubbish (a lot of which went to a private dump), along with many other people who gave their time. Next Brian Davis was employed to build the buildings on piles so they could be shifted easily if ever needed. The toilet block was built first.
Trees were bought from Matatoa and they gave advice on planting and Waiopehu College students did the planting.
Daughter Susan and Helen organised fund-raising. They went to playgrounds in Masterton, Napier, Wellington and everywhere between looking at equipment.
Mini golf was put in where the train runs now but it was not successful. Brendon talked them into putting the old Ken Douglas train in which originally was at the Lake and had gone down to Kimberley Hospital. Unfortunately the motor had to be completely rebuilt which was done by Ducare. They hunted for extra train track which they found difficult to source. Underneath the mound where the train is they dumped rubbish.
There is a list of what was completed in April 2002 and a list of money raised. Robert Young built the intermediate challenge which Susan designed. Rotary did fitness trial around the outside.
Toilets were voted best toilets in N.I. in ISEP
The Collis' passed over the running of the park in 2008. They personally gave a considerable amount of money to developing the park.