Council funding gets ball rolling for Taihape playground redevelopment

The Taihape Playground Group is looking to district neighbours Marton for inspiration as it begins planning its new playground. Photo / Supplied

Plans for a new state-of-the-art playground in Taihape are underway thanks to a council grant to get the ball moving.

The Taihape Playground Group has received $50,000 from the Rangitīkei District Council and has started planning the redevelopment and expansion of the playground at Memorial Park.

President Charity Davis said they applied for funding at the start of the year and found out in June their application was successful.

"We have been pushing for the Long-Term Plan since we started and it got accepted, so we are really happy about that."

Davis and a couple of other parents united in August last year to create the group after years of complaints from locals about the "rundown" playground.

"[Mayor] Andy [Watson] said he would support any community-driven initiative. He has kept his word and he has been really supportive."

The Rangitīkei District Council originally pledged $25,000 to the cause but has since doubled it to $50,000 as that was what was committed to other playground groups in recent years and would ensure consistency across the district.

The pledge from the council has given the group confidence to push forward with its fundraising efforts and it has begun the process of securing the land for the planned site at Memorial Park.

"We've decided we want to completely upgrade the existing playground as well as use the land next to the grandstand," Davis said.

"We are just waiting to formalise the land and get a design up and running."

The group said the new playground in Marton was serving as a rough template for their goals, as well as giving them an idea of the potential cost for the project.

"My kids love that playground. When they went there, they didn't want to leave," Davis said.

"It kind of shocks people when we say this, but it will be the same price or more as Marton's, which is $1 million to $1.5 million. That is just being realistic."

Whanganui business Playground Centre, which designed the new Marton playground, has offered its services to the group.

Davis remembers when the Memorial Park playground was built when she was young and said it was time to inject new life into it.

"There is not much to offer, really. It is past its use-by date. I remember when it was built when I was little and being really excited. It's now our turn to make others excited."

The group has become a sub-committee of the Taihape Community Development Trust, which is helping the members understand the nuances and legalities involved with accessing grants and council processes.

"We do all the fundraising and getting amongst the community, approaching businesses, and they help us with all the grants."

Davis said any donations to the group would be greatly appreciated. People who would like more information can message the Taihape Playground Group on Facebook.