A new report on the Hatea Loop has revealed what users want most - more shade and more toilets.
The results of the Jewell of the City report 2017 of 11 different "activity nodes" around the walkway showed that these were the most common suggestions, along with extra seating.
Whangarei's Youth Advisory Group (YAG) spent 65 hours collecting data and interviewing people using the playground, dog park, BMX track and other areas on the Hatea Loop.
Carla Janssen, convener of the council group, said in January the team of five would count and interview loop users between January 21 and February 2.
"It's a utility survey, observing and counting in 11 spots around the Hatea Loop," she said.
"It's an important survey that allows our council to see who is using the spaces, where they are from and what they would like to improve."
The survey revealed that although most walkway users were local, a large number of Aucklanders were surveyed in some areas.
A third of interviewees at the Town Basin were from Auckland, and 22 per cent of those surveyed at the Canopy Bridge.
People at the Canopy Bridge and the family BMX track wanted more toilets nearby, while shade was a high priority for those at the art park, dog park and playground.
More rubbish bins were suggested for two of the sites, along with free Wi-Fi and cheaper cafes and eateries.
Rebecca McKean, an 18-year-old working on the survey for the first time, said the Hatea Loop was important to young people.
"The Jewel in the City survey is a big focus for the youth advisory group because young people use this space a lot, from the BMX track to walking."
This was the fourth annual survey but the first since new improvements, including water fountains, lighting and artwork, were put in place.
The council also put an anti-slip coating on the wooden boardwalk and put $425,000 into a new "pocket park" to connect the walkway to the Okara Shopping Centre.
More lighting and another eight CCTV cameras were also installed in August to improve security.