Call for public feedback on Takapuna playground redesign

Auckland Council is looking to the community for feedback after plans to turn a central Takapuna playground into an 'urban play area' drew criticism.

The Potter's Park playground, located next to the Takapuna Rose Gardens, will be fully redeveloped, after falling into disrepair.

Devonport-Takapuna Local Board chairman, Joseph Bergin, said the board is open to suggestions from the community.

“When you talk to local mums or people who go past on a regular basis, they come up with some brilliant ideas and we want to make sure whatever the Potter's Park playground [will be], it’s catering specifically to its location.”

The current plans for the playground overhaul depict an ‘urban play area’, a complete contrast from the existing traditional playground at the site.

The plans for the new playground include balancing beams, embankment slides, and an artificial mound with handgrips, at a projected cost of $152,000.

Mr Bergin’s suggestions for local feedback and opinion came after it emerged that some local playground users were not entirely happy with the plans.

Local resident and father, Evan Seber, said he thinks the board needs to consider the age demographic that the current playground targets when making decisions about the renewal.

“What’s wrong with this [the current playground]? If you have a kid that is one to two, this is perfect. The play areas are challenging enough for the kids at that age.”

Mr Seber said that despite the “cool” looking plans, they did not reflect the demographic of the children who currently use Potter's Park playground, like his three-year-old daughter Lily.

Mr Seber suggested rather than renewing the whole playground, the council could add some of the items from the plans, in order to widen the age range for the playground, while still allowing areas for younger children.

Angels Childcare Centre is located near the park, and centre manager, Angela Fox, said she thinks residents should be embracing the change within the playground renewal.

However, Ms Fox said that she would like any new playground equipment installed to be beneficial forthe development of children.

“At the root of it, we want children to have fun and enjoy themselves but we also want them to learn through play, and there are things we can do to better equip children in their development.”

Ms Fox also said that because Potter's Park is in such a central area, she would like the play area to be fenced, to prevent dangerous situations.

Mr Bergin is hoping for construction to begin in early July.

People can attend community forums at local board meetings to voice their opinion and the local board will be engaging with the public in the coming months.