New playground project to start

An artist's impression of Destination Playground which is going to be built at Anderson Park, Napier. Photo / Supplied

Redevelopment of a Napier playground has been brought forward due to the project's popularity.

Work is shortly set to begin on Destination Playground, a large scale construction at Anderson Park.

A Napier City Council spokesperson said the project was originally proposed in the Long Term Plan 2015-25 but following its popularity with the public who made submissions during the consultation period, council decided to bring forward its construction date.

The existing playground was closed today to allow for construction to start.

The work has to be carried out over the summer months while the weather is good and there is a lower chance of flooding the site and grass being damaged, the spokesperson said.

The existing playground will be dismantled, but any of the equipment which is still in a good condition will be redistributed to other playgrounds around the city.

The skate bowl and toilet facilities will remain accessible to the public while construction is under way.

Destination Playgrounds are popular nationally and internationally because of the diverse range of experiences they offer families, people of all ages and abilities.

They are designed to promote family interaction with diverse play opportunities for children, teenagers and adults.

Anderson Park's Destination Playground will include high and low activity areas, physical challenges in the form of swinging, sliding, climbing and spinning, structured and non-structured play, and learning opportunities.

It is expected to be finished and ready to use by mid-2018. The playground and park improvements are expected to cost $2.5 million.

Anderson Park is currently a large, popular, 36ha park with a well-used pathway network.

For more information visit www.napier.govt.nz.

Other features of the new park include:

- Graduated physical challenges

- Contrasting experiences

- Areas to provide elevation, enclosure and sensory experiences

- Storytelling and verbal communication prompts

- Family environment, picnic seating and shelter

- Natural play environment

- Transition features: younger children are provided for at the western end, and older children at the eastern end, where the skate bowl already exists.