Te Awamutu skatepark concept plans finalised
Changes made after community feedback sessions
The Waipa¯ District Council has just released its final concept designs for the Te Awamutu Skatepark at Centennial Park. The council held consultations in December seeking feedback from the skate community for the Cambridge and Te Awamutu concept plans. The response was impressive, with 90 people completing the survey and providing their input. Jake Gunn and Jhai Fellingnam both won a skateboard as part of the feedback process.
The new concept plans are a full refresh and upgrade of the existing skateparks in Centennial Park, Te Awamutu and on Dominion Rd, Cambridge.
Acting community services manager Brad Ward said the council has taken into account all the feedback and incorporated it into the concept plans where possible, while still catering for all skill levels and working to the site and budget constraints.
“Following the feedback, the changes we have made to the concept designs are creating a hang-out zone between the skatepark and basketball court that has shade and seating.
“The shade near the bowl has been relocated to the hang-out zone, a euro bank has been added to the stairs and we have changed the upper quarter-pipe arrangement to a 5-foot and 3.5-foot quarter with a seating area between.
“We have also shortened the top area leading into the main hubbas and stair set by a metre.”
The council had planned a further drop-in session to present the final concept plan for Te Awamutu to answer any questions about the new changes. However, due to the increasing presence of Omicron in the community and the move to the red setting within the Covid-19 Protection Framework, the session will now be conducted online.
The online drop-in session will be on Wednesday, February 23, 7pm-8pm via Zoom.
Participants will be able to join the webinar where Antony Leggett from Acid NZ will be explaining the Te Awamutu concept plan indepth.
“The online drop-in session is a great opportunity for the community to come, ask questions and learn in-depth about the upgraded skatepark.”
Acid NZ, alongside head contractor Fluhler Contracting Limited, were the successful tenderers for the Play Spaces Renewal and Development Contract, which includes the skate parks design and builds.
The next step in the project will be starting construction on the Te Awamutu Skatepark in late March/ early April and at the end of February, the council will have the updated concept design for the Cambridge Skatepark which will be reshared with the community.
Construction at the Te Awamutu site is estimated to take six months and most of Centennial Park around the skate facility, basketball court and main carpark
will be closed during the construction. The basketball court may need to be closed for part of the construction period but the public will be advised closer to the time.
The construction at Centennial Park links into other development work there, such as a parkour space and other play features aimed at the rangatahi/teenage demographic. Further refinement of the Te Awamutu Skatepark design may also be required to accommodate the outcomes of the ongoing drainage investigations.
The council is in the process of identifying appropriate sites for the future Pirongia and Kihikihi skateparks.
To join the online webinar or to see the Te Awamutu Skatepark concept plans go to waipadc.govt.nz/ waipa-skate-parks