New playground on track for opening
The new children’s playground in Western Ave by the Skate Path is looking exciting and on track to open soon.
Western Bay of Plenty District Council is on track and planning to have the playground open and available for the public by Christmas.
There are about 10 playground items in the area including a double flying fox (45m long), junior slide, bug springy, rotater, cavatina, voice tubes, basket and conventional swings, said Scott Parker, reserves project manager.
“There is also nice deck seating structures under the trees for shade and a shade structure over the junior slide.”
There will still be further work to do in the new year to establish new plantings, he said.
In February this year council asked the Omokoroa community for feedback on a draft concept design for the new Western Ave playground.
Common themes included further seating, shade structures, equipment specific to under-5s and with audio qualities and planting areas, definition between activities to assist with safe separation.
Contractors have been busy since September preparing the playground and installing specific play equipment. A joint effort between groups in Omokoroa saw volunteers walk the streets collecting for the food bank drive. Cyberlink chief executive Rick Peers and members of the Omokoroa Volunteer Fire Brigade, assisted by the Omokoroa Community Church, Omokoroa Lions Club and Activ8 started around six last Tuesday evening. For around two hours they collected items donated by local residents. The collection was a huge success thanks to the generosity of the Omokoroa locals. This has enabled the Omokoroa Community Church to replenish its stocks which will now last for another year. As there was surplus, donations were made to both Katikati and Tauranga food banks. Thank you Omokoroa community for your generosity.