The Palmerston North City Council purchased the site of the old railway ballast pit in 1938 and developed it into a recreational and sporting area. A memorial to citizens killed in World War Two (WWII) was erected and in 1954 Fitzroy Park was officially dedicated as Memorial Park. These plans are not all of the same date but informed the development of the time. The plans cover the general layout, war memorial, running and cycle track, skating rink, clubrooms, dressing shed, toilets, seating, stormwater and cross sections. They also include the proposed plan of the skating rink at Himitangi, and plans for the Cooks Gardens and Western Springs stadium tracks.