New Kaiapoi Playground To Have Fort, Spinner And Slides

Friday, 28 February 2025, 6:04 am
Article: David Hill - Local Democracy Reporter

Children will soon have a new playground at Kaiapoi’s Norman Kirk Park to keep them busy while older siblings are playing softball.

The Waimakariri District Council plans to spend $300,000 installing new play equipment at Norman Kirk Park, off Cass Street, and at the nearby Currie Park.

The playground will include a fort structure with slides and climbing elements, a three-bay swing set, a carousel / spinner and a rocker.

A smaller play space will be installed at Currie Park, between Feldwick Drive and Ellen Place, with a focus on natural and sensory play.

It will include a bug trail, timber stepping posts, walking logs, rock boulders and some plantings.

Norman Kirk Park was established in the former residential red zone, between Cass Street and Feldwick Drive, with new softball diamonds opening in February 2021 to support the growing popularity of the sport.

The new play space will be installed next to the softball diamonds.

The council’s community and recreation general manager Chris Brown said having playgrounds next to sports grounds is common in the district.

‘‘People often have other kids around when there’s sport on, so it means younger siblings can play in a safe environment.

‘‘These things tend to last 50 years, so if you think of how this area is going to look in five, 10 or 15 years, we think this is the right thing to do.

‘‘Looking five or 10 years down the track, it will become destination where people come from outside this area to use the facilities.’’

Council landscape architect Tori Stableford said recent public consultation included engagement with the Kaiapoi Softball Club, which was supportive of the project.

The softball club expressed concern that bark mulch from the playground could travel on to the softball diamonds, but staff will ensure it is installed at a height of 50mm below the surrounding edge to minimise the spread, she said.

The project has been approved by the Kaiapoi-Tuahiwi Community Board.

Longer term, the council has plans to install a learn-to-ride-a-bike area for children at Norman Kirk Park, next to the new playground, with provision made in last year’s Long Term Plan.

Mr Brown said planning had yet to begin, but it could be based at similar designs at Oamaru and Wigram, Christchurch.

Norman Kirk Park is named after former New Zealand Prime Minister Norman Kirk, who also served as mayor of Kaiapoi.

LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air.

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