Up to $11 million has been committed to the development plan for Wellington's waterfront over the next three financial years.
"The number of people using the waterfront is rapidly growing - especially given the rapid population increase in the CBD - and so the waterfront needs investment to keep it attractive and to meet the needs of the thousands of locals and visitors who use it every day," Wellington Mayor Celia Wade-Brown said.
Frank Kitts Park was "tired and pretty much built the wrong way round", she said.
"The children's play area can be far better and bigger. Also, at the moment you can't actually see the sea from most of the park. Its existing design dates back to the days of the waterfront motor racing - so it features somewhat forbidding ramparts that cut it off from the harbour. We can make it much better both for casual visitors and big events."
Under the development plan a Chinese Garden will be built at the southern end of Frank Kitts Park - subject to successful fundraising by the Wellington Chinese Garden Society.