Play area refreshed
A temporary wall blocking access to the Kidstm play area at Palmerston North’s Te Manawa will come down in time for the school holidays.
The much-loved playrooms have remained out of bounds since Covid-19 restrictions eased while the first phase of a refresh is carried out.
Programme developer Imogen Stockwell and production manager Graeme Slimin have been working with contractor Craigh Macdonald to make the kitchen and former bedroom areas more fun.
Stockwell said after 10 years of intense use, the project was needed as part of general maintenance.
About 70 per cent of Te Manawa’s 150,000 visitors a year stop to play in the space, and the walls and fittings were showing signs of wear and tear.
But the area is getting more than just a lick of paint.
Fixtures, fittings and signs have been brought even closer to children’s eye level, te reo has been embedded in text and activities, and the whole unit will be re-branded as Tamariki.
The bedroom area would become more of a reading nook, with more options for interactive play.
Slimin said the works, which had been planned for later in the year, were able to be carried out early, partly because of Covid-19 restrictions.
Lockdown had given staff time to think about how to re-design and make it better. And as the facility cautiously reopened during loosening restrictions, it still made sense to avoid using an area that became busy with lots of people touching the activities.
The fresh design is more modular, allowing pieces to be moved or replaced to maintain interest for repeat visitors.
One of the eye-catching features is the new over-sink ‘‘window’’ that plays a cycle of moving farmyard scenes through changing weather and seasons, including a particular surprise.
The refreshed Tamariki zone will be open from 10am on Saturday July 4.
Work on the makeover is expected to continue later in the year in preparation for the Christmas holidays.