Masonic Park is undergoing a $150,000 makeover as Tauranga City Council attempts to rectify stormwater issues and better utilise the park's recreational ability.

Contractors work on the Masonic Park upgrades.

This week diggers and temporary steel fences appeared as contractors began work on the two month project, removing the parks larger palm tree and grass verge in the process.

Key works will see improvements made to the footpaths surface and its width, flattening the grass area on the Wharf Street side of the park and additional stormwater infrastructure installed.

The stormwater infrastructure is seen to helping managing the stormwater issues that exist on the northern boundary of the park.

The Masonic Park site was historically home to the Masonic Hotel from 1865 until it was demolished in 1993, with council deciding the site was to become an open space reserve in 2010.

'What we are doing is a bit of landscaping over there and at the same time we are resolving some of the stormwater issues that are at Masonic Park because it's the lowest level between the two buildings and the car park,” says Tauranga City Council project manager Tony Bodger.

'So we are just putting in some stormwater pipes and linking it to the stormwater network on The Strand.”

Tony says the flattening on the Wharf St side means the 'two hills” will be made level with the rest of the park offering a more user friendly public space.

A concrete plaza is also being constructed and installed adding another dimension for the public to use.

Pedestrian access through the park will be maintained throughout the works, expected to be completed by the end of June.

But Tony says the removal of the palm tree is permanent.

'The palm tree has been removed that was pretty much dying anyway. When we pulled it out from the ground we found out why because it still had its plastic cover from when it was put in 10 or 20 years ago.

'The whole area is going to look good when it's finished.”