in the 1940s an area south of newton road underwent a process of slum clearance to alleviate the perceived problems of an area of densely packed sub-standard housing. properties in basque street were purchased by the auckland city council. these were demolished and the land cleared resulting in the creation of basque park. the new park, which was completed around 1945, included a playground for children, ironically this facility came at a time when much of the housing in the area was being replaced with light industrial businesses so the park has never seen much of the use it was intended to see.