Playgrounds upgrades progressing

Work will be getting underway soon to upgrade five Kāpiti playgrounds.

Kāpiti Coast District Council gathered community feedback on playgrounds in Paraparaumu and Ōtaki that are due to be upgraded in the next financial year.

A series of drop-in sessions were run at the playgrounds at Tasman Road and Haruatai Park in Ōtaki, and Te Ātiawa Park, Kaitawa Reserve and Aorangi Road in Paraparaumu last year.

Parks and Recreation Manager Alison Law says community feedback was invaluable in identifying common themes for each particular playground and knowing what popular pieces of play equipment people wanted to be featured.

“We aim to create playgrounds that are accessible, fun, varied and cater for a wide range of abilities. Each of the playgrounds have a different feel and character to it based on what the community has told us,” she says.

Although the work is part of the Council’s regular playground renewal programme for when equipment nears the end of its design life and is due for replacement, Ms Law says it’s been great to have the community help shape the final concepts.

“Our goal is to design interesting playgrounds that meet the needs of both children and their caregivers and the community's input is important so we know we’re getting it right for them,” she says.

“The focus of these new designs is on encouraging group play and interaction among all ages.”

Work is scheduled to start in March on the playgrounds in Aorangi Road and Te Ātiawa Park in Paraparaumu and Haruatai Park in Ōtaki.

Work at Kaitawa Reserve in Paraparaumu is scheduled for April and Tasman Road in Ōtaki Beach is scheduled for May.

People can find out further information at kapiticoast.govt.nz/playgrounds  

10 February 2017