Canterbury Mornings

A $3.6 million redevelopment of Christchurch's Lancaster Park into a green space and sports fields has begun.It is likely that sports games can be played there from early next year.This first stage of the redevelopment is expected to take around nine months to complete.It includes cleaning up and levelling the site and removing the foundations of the demolished Lancaster Park stadium.Christchurch City Council head of parks Andrew Rutledge said it is a significant milestone following the loss of the stadium."Lancaster Park has long held a special place in many Cantabrians' hearts. After a proud 130-year history of hosting sporting events of all levels before the stadium came down, it's fitting that this park will now get a new lease of life as a community sports and recreation area."Rutledge said a spatial plan, which was developed in response to community need for more recreational areas and sports grounds in the area, is being used as a guide for the redevelopment work.Further development signalled in the sp