Play area for elderly could be first in NZ

Te Puke could be the first town in New Zealand to get a playground designed for the elderly to enjoy alongside children.
Intergenerational playgrounds, which cater for children as well as their parents and grandparents, are popular in Europe and have been introduced to New Zealand this year by Wanganui company Playground Centre.
The playground, which Te Puke Community Board has agreed to spend up to $100,000 to build, will have a kiwifruit theme, reflecting the town's main industry.
Community board chairwoman Karyl Gunn said the board wanted to create a point of difference in the town.
"A playground's a playground everywhere but we can promote one themed around kiwifruit and used by all ages," she said.
Playground Centre marketing manager Jacob Currie said intergenerational playgrounds were designed by physiotherapists to help older people improve their movement and balance, while building strength.
The pilot intergenerational playground, built in Finland, allowed motor development skills to be studied for  pre-schoolers as well as a group of 60 to 80-year-olds.
If built, the Te Puke playground will be the first intergenerational playground in the country, Mr Currie confirmed.
Tauranga social gerontologist Carole Gordon said she had been promoting the idea of elder playgrounds in the Western Bay for many years, having seen them in  Europe and Japan.
She said they built strength in older people making them less frail and in turn reducing admissions to hospitals and resthomes, while providing an opportunity for socialisation.
However, she had concerns about the idea of mixing a child's playground with elder exercise equipment aimed at improving the strength and resilience of older people.
"It will become dominated by children, and I don't think older people want to be seen as children.
"I'm delighted that it's been picked up now in our area but I do caution that the real purpose of encouraging older people to use equipment is not lost," she said.
Mrs Gordon said the idea of senior playgrounds had been developed in Europe and in Japan where elder equipment, made mostly of wood, was created to blend in with the natural environment in park areas.
The intergenerational playground is part of the Te Puke Town Centre Development Plan involving a major upgrade of Jubilee Park.
The development would create a town centre for Te Puke, Mrs Gunn said.
If given the final go-ahead by the  district council, Mrs Gunn hoped Stage 1 of the development, including the playground, would be completed in 2012.
"It's a draft concept to be adopted and the hope is that it will be completed next year."

Concepts for the town centre development also include  a cultural courtyard and an amphitheatre.
"This is an opportunity to have a really good place to live and play," Mrs Gunn said.
Currently under construction in Te Puke is a walkway linking Jellicoe St and Jubilee Park.