Neighbourhood gets new park

Auckland Council is in the process of transforming a small reserve at 86 Harvest Ave in Ōrewa, into a neighbourhood park and play area. There is a total budget of $800,000 already approved for developing the park and given the pace of growth in the area, Council considers the work a high priority to meet local recreational needs.

The reserve is just under 3000sqm, and what will be included in the space has involved a process of public consultation. This has informed the design, including locating the playground with issues such as neighbours overlooking it, and noise, taken into account.

The concept plan was presented to the Hibiscus & Bays Local Board at its workshop on June 13, where it met a warm reception.

Parks and Community Facilities programme manager Sandra May, who presented the concept plan, said is it naturally “quite a boggy site” that has an overland flow path through it. However, she told members that the park has been designed with that in mind. Another issue raised was how colourful the playground equipment should be. The theme is ‘nature’ and much of the equipment selected is in natural materials. w Backstories www.localmatters.co.nz

Two local board members – chair Gary Brown and Jake Law – suggested that bright colours are enjoyed by children and would be good in what can be very neutralcoloured new developments.

However, May said the equipment was chosen as a result of feedback from the children themselves, as well as adults.

“While children did prefer bright colours, the equipment they preferred was in natural tones,” she said.

A desire for more shade trees was also raised by members, rather than the shade sail suggested in the concept design. The plan will go to a local board business meeting for approval in July or August. The project is expected to take around a year to complete.

HM June 27 and October 17, 2022