Eastside Youth Space officially opened, followed by Amazing Race

It was an exciting weekend to be young with the official opening of the Eastside Youth Space and an Amazing Race.

The new youth space opening took place on Saturday at Puketawhero Park.

The opening was followed by the Eastside Amazing Race, which local youth had worked hard to organise and get ready.

The Mokoia Community Association worked alongside the Eastside Community Collective for this youth space and had strong support from the Rotorua Lakes Council.

They have spent the past few years discussing with young people what their space could look like and talking with the community.

They held workshops with Eastside schools about what they would like to see and took young people out to other youth spaces.

One of the Youth Space's features is a community stage, which the Rotorua East Lions worked on.

It is the only outdoor community stage in Rotorua with mobility access, and 1113 hours was spent on its building.

Rotorua East Lions Club president Linda Cousins said it was wonderful to have the space officially opened.

"It was amazing to see a lot of the community, especially the rangatahi, marvelling at the space."

She said the Lions Club was a service organisation and a way they could give back and be involved in the community.

All the work that had been done on the Youth Space would be a legacy in years to come, she said.

"We were privileged to be a part of the work out at Puketawhero Park, and our work began with the Mokoia Community Association.

"We would like to thank them for allowing us to be a part of a community project on such a grand scale."

She said it would be interesting to watch the Youth Space grow.

As well as the stage, features include a basketball half court, skate park and play areas.

There were 40 volunteers who laid bark and 100 Mokoia students planted for three hours in the process.

Owhata School principal Bob Stiles said a lot of people from the Eastside community and the Rotorua Lakes Council had put a lot of time and effort into the Youth Space.

"I think it's a fantastic facility and every time we go past there's more and more kids playing in it."

Mr Stiles said mayor Steve Chadwick and kaumatua Paraone Pirika attended, and children from Owhata School sang waiata.

He said since children had been consulted for the design of it, it gave them a sense of ownership over the space.

"It gives our children something to do and it's safe."

He thanked all the people who were there because, "we've got a fantastic community organisation out there always working together and producing great results for the community".

The youth who worked on the Eastside Amazing Race got together every Thursday for Term 2 and 3.

The pit stops for the race were within a 2km radius of the Eastside Youth Space.