The North Island Main Trunk railway and State Highway 1 used to run around three bays from Porirua city centre through Papakōwhai.

The bays were between the mouth of Porirua Stream and promontories at Gear Homestead, Thurso Grove and Brora Crescent.

[3] The ministry shaped the park with material from the nearby earthworks for the Royal New Zealand Police College and Whitford Brown Avenue.

[4] It also entered and was retained in a shallow duck pond,[6] to the north-east of the lagoon, which had persistently poor water quality.

[10] Poor water quality in the lagoon means contact recreation, including swimming, is prohibited.

To the north-east, the play zone has adventure and toddlers's playgrounds,[12] the stream,[10] a pump track,[13] a splash pad,[14] and the Butterfly Walkway.

[17] Built by Waitangirua Lions,[1] the railway operates Sunday afternoon, weather permitting, from a station south of the lagoon.

When the park opened in March 1980, a newspaper report mentioned the miniature railway, the lawns and the rose garden with the sculpture by Ngan as its centrepiece.