Fitzherbert Park

Story

Fitzherbert Park is a cricket ground in Palmerston North in New Zealand, a home ground of the Central Districts. In February 2000, New Zealand Women defeated England Women at the ground.Re-developmentWith the development of NZC Warrant of Fitness (WOF) and increasing expectations of the modern game Fitzherbert Park lost their NZC WOF due to the lack of effective irrigation to the outfield in droughty summers causing a brown bumpy outfield that first class players did not like.Fitzherbert Park is unusual as it has three cricket blocks (two club and one representative) and a practise block within the one facility. During winter rugby league is played over the outfield and blocks making for more difficult management of the ground for the groundstaff.Since losing the NZC WOF Palmerston North City Council in consultation with Manawatu Cricket Association had Extended the drainage across the whole ground Installed a full outfield pop up irrigation system Resurfaced the two Patumahoe blocks Replaced the Marton soil with Patumahoe on the town end block.