 Following Myer's intentions, the 2.4ha² of the wasteland was transformed into an example of a Reform Park designed by the City Park Superintendent Thomas Pearson, who had previously been employed by the New Zealand government to create the gardens at Rotorua, Te Aroha, Queenstown and Hamner Springs.The 'Reform Park' movement was a newly developed concept in the United States where rampant urban growth was raising many concerns and resulting in the systematic provision of safe spaces for children to play and green spaces to relax in.At this time many cities were trying to improve their civic landscape with Artistic Parks and Sports Grounds - in Auckland Albert Park 1884 is an example of the former and Victoria Park 1905 an example of the latter.