The Glover Park upgrade may look good but does not solve Wellington’s homeless problem, says Stephanie McIntyre of Downtown City Ministry.

"I think it is important that the public is aware of the costs we put into these sorts of things but the amount we put into social well being is very small," McIntyre says.

The Wellington City Council spent $1.2 million transforming the park into an attractive and accessible central-city gathering place for Wellingtonians. The main aim of the redevelopment of Glover Park, which was notorious as a hangout spot for rough sleepers, was to make the park more visible from both Ghuznee and Garrett Streets.

"We are supportive of the renovation of public spaces and Glover Park needed things done to it.," she says.

McIntyre says the park wasn’t very attractive, nor a safe place for people but the amount of money given to the homeless by the council is "chicken feed" compared to the money spent on tidying public spaces.

"Glover Park was a place where a lot of people lived because they simply haven’t been able to find other suitable accommodation."

McIntyre says she would like to see more money spent on housing rough sleepers in a Wet House facility, which Capital Times reported on in mid-February this year.

"Investment in addressing homelessness is not money wasted," McIntyre says.

Capital Times visited the new and improved Glover Park on a sunny day and found that every person sitting in the park on their lunch break was happy with the renovation and felt it was money well spent.

Mark Simpson says he often eats in Cuba Mall and has been looking forward to enjoying the sun in the park.

"It had a bit of a reputation before, and whether it will revert to that I don’t know. But it is certainly improved and time will tell whether it is money well spent."

Chris Berentson also likes the new park.

"I remember it from years ago. It was a pretty inconspicuous place. I wouldn’t walk through it before but now that it is open and looks nice and green I will."

Another Wellingtonian, who asked to remain anonymous, agreed.

"I would never have sat here nor walked through the park before. It never looked clean.

"It’s great. It’s much more open. I’ve been sitting listening to the tuis singing for the last hour."