Playground pops into life
Memorial Park’s $1.2 million makeover, including Manawatu¯’s first free-to-use splash pad and a fully accessible playground, begins this month.
Palmerston North City Council chief infrastructure officer Tom Williams said with a planned completion date before Christmas, the development would give people something to look forward to this summer.
The park remains open for use during construction, but the playground and paddling pool area, already fenced off during lockdown, remain out of bounds.
The redevelopment includes a memorial theme, in keeping with the site’s history, with murals, poppies and the recently installed gun at the main entrance. The splash pad has what is believed to be the only super soaker that will be free to use in the Southern Hemisphere. It features a giant bucket that dumps water on people using the pad.
There will be areas for babies and toddlers separated from activities for older children by a footpath and a barrier.
The playground replaces the current play area, but on a bigger scale, and would be the most accessible playground in the city for children of all abilities.
It will include climbing tubes, slides, ramps, swings, balancing balls and ropes, climbing walls and fall nets.
The toddler area will have a slide, bridge and tunnel. The whole area will feature giant poppies that will provide shade and pay homage to thememorial nature of the grounds.
Williams said the best aspect of the design was the way it would allow everyone to play together.
‘‘Currently, the play equipment at the park for disabled children is off to the side and fenced in. We want our parks and playgrounds to be as inclusive as possible.’’
The facilities will be rounded out with water fountains and barbecues.
The current playground equipment will be shifted to other sites in the city.
During construction, the park’s skating rink, sports fields, grass areas, duck pond and toilets remain open for use, but the lower car park will be closed off for contractors’ use.
The council has paid about $950,000 for the work and $15,000 has come from the Mainland Foundation. The council is still waiting to hear about a funding application for the remaining $235,000.