Playground, pools by Christmas
New Brighton’s new seaside playground and children’s pools should be ready for childhood frolics by Christmas.
Designs for the $8 million playground were presented to the Christchurch City Council on Thursday by its rebuild development company, Development Christchurch (DCL).
The playground will be built on Marine Parade between the existing paddling pool and play area and the public library. DCL wants public feedback on the plan by July 23. It will finalise the design and start construction in late winter, and have the playground ready for summer.
The council’s $8m budget will fund coastal protection and a contribution to moving the New Brighton Surf Lifesaving Club as well as the playground itself.
After public ideas for the project were gathered last year, the design was put together with the help of local school children.
The playground will have three parts: a water play and splash pad zone, a dry play zone, and a toddlers’ zone.
Once construction starts, the old playground and paddling pool will be closed. New Brighton’s $11m new salt hot pools will be built on the site of the old playground.
The new playground design will include:
❚ A paddling pool and splash pad with water toys
❚ The whale from the old paddling pool reused with a new water jet
❚ An interactive water-play area where children can create their own water world
❚ A 12-metre flying fox, climbing frames and slides
❚ A toddlers’ play area with sand and play structures
❚ Water canons and a spin ’n splash pelican.
The public can drop feedback into several locations in New Brighton including the library, or online at the council website ccc.govt.nz. DCL will also have the designs on display at the New Brighton Saturday seaside market for the next four weekends.