A new playground on the way
A new junior playground, with a nautical theme, is about to be installed in Kaitaia’s Jaycee Park, the first part of a two-stage revamp.
The new equipment will include a boat-shaped climbing platform with decks at different levels, steering wheels, telescopes, slides, and a crawl tunnel covered with artificial grass. New swings will be added, with a specially-designed parent-child swing, and a basket swing suitable for infants.
The existing playground site will be expanded to make room for it all.
Te Hiku Community Board chairwoman Adele Gardner said the new equipment was part of a wider revamp of the park that would eventually link it with the nearby skate park.
“The upgrade is being funded out of a new $100,000 Placemaking Fund created by the Far North District Council last year,” she said.
“The Placemaking Fund is divided between the three community boards to help them better support the council’s mission of creating great places.”
The board had identified Jaycee Park as a priority because of its central location and popularity.
“This funding has allowed us to respond to requests for equipment our younger tamariki can enjoy and explore. However, to complete the work quickly and safely, we will have to close the playground temporarily,” she added.
“During this time wha¯nau may want to use alternative playgrounds in Davis St and Allen Bell Drive.”
The playground will be closed from Monday next week, and is scheduled to open again by March 15.
Ms Gardner said the board aimed to add more features, such as shade sails, drinking fountains, picnic tables, seating, lighting and concrete paths, but the available funding would not stretch that far, so it was seeking sponsorship from organisations and the town’s business community.
Sponsors would be recognised with name plaques or similar on whatever they helped pay for.
The second stage of the revamp would be developed by landscape designers Open Spaces.
It would provide a blueprint for increasing connections between the playground and skate park.