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Christchurch won’t have to wait much longer for its latest addition, with the opening dates for the city’s new Parakiore Recreation and Sport Centre announced today.
Christchurch Mayor Phil Mauger announced today that from 5.30am on December 17 people will be able to whizz down a hydroslide, shoot some hoopsor relax in a sauna.
“It’s certainly been a long road, but I know the whole team is thrilled to be preparing for the first event, and then opening the doors to the public,” said Mauger.
Parakiore Recreation and Sport Centre will open on December 17. Photo / Christchurch City Council
A formal ceremony will take place on December 9, from 8am-10.30am before the Special Olympics National Summer Games being held from December 10-14.
“It’s fitting that such a fantastic event will be first to make use of the new world-class facility,” said Mauger.
The Parakiore centre will then open to the public from 5.30am on December 17.
“Once we’ve packed up the Special Olympics and made sure everything is shipshape, the gym, pools, hydroslides and community courts will all be open for public use,” said Mauger.
“We also have some have-a-go sessions hosted by the council team and local sports groups, and self-guided tours of Parakiore in the works”.
The recreation and sport centre, on Moorhouse Ave in central Christchurch, is at 32,000sqm, the country’s largest indoor sport and aquatics facility.
It includes a 50m competition pool, dive pool, five hydroslides, a large aquatic leisure zone and a Sensory Aqua Centre designed for inclusive participation.
Parakiore Recreation and Sport Centre will open on December 17. Photo / Christchurch City Council
There are nine indoor courts, including a three‑court Show Court with retractable grandstands for spectators, fitness and movement studios, and a High Performance Sport New Zealand training base.
The facility was officially handed over to Christchurch City Council on October 31.
The council’s fit-out, testing and commissioning process has been underway ever since.
Jazlyn Whales is a multimedia journalist based in the Christchurch newsroom.
