Big plans unveiled for seaside playground

One of Christchurch’s most popular seaside playgrounds is going to get a makeover.

The play equipment at Scarborough Park in Sumner is nearing the end of its life so a project team from the Christchurch City Council has been gathering ideas from the local community about options for replacing it.

A 'mouse wheel' is one of the new pieces of play equipment proposed for the Scarborugh Park playground.

They have put those ideas together into a draft concept plan, which they now want to get public feedback on.

“We’ve already met with a small group of students from Our Lady Star of the Sea School to check that we are on the right track but now we want to hear what other people think of the plan we’ve come up with,’’ said Christchurch City Council Acting Head of Parks Brent Smith.

Included in the plan is provision for a mouse wheel, which would be the first in a Christchurch City Council park, an eagles lair climbing net, a dancing snake rope swing, a climbing tower with slides, a triple swing set, a rocking horse, spring toys, a carousel and nature play items.

The concept plan also provides for a new 1.2 metre wide sealed scooter path, more picnic tables and rubberised safety surfacing to make the playground more accessible.

As part of the proposed playground upgrade one macrocarpa tree, which is in poor condition and a potential health and safety risk, will be removed to make way for play equipment.

“One thing we’re particularly keen to get people’s feedback on is the colour theme for the new playground. We’re looking at three options – neutral colours, heritage colours (red, blue and white) or colours that match the nearby Scarborough paddling pool (green, blue, yellow and red),’’ Mr Smith said.

A drop-in session where people can find out more about what is proposed will be held at Scarborough Park between 10am and noon on Saturday 28 October. If it is raining heavily on that day, the drop-in session will be held on Saturday 4 November instead.

People can also find more information about the planned playground upgrade and give their feedback through Have Your Say. The consultation period closes on Monday 13 November. Once the feedback has been considered and the concept plan finalised, it will be presented to the Linwood-Central-Heathcote Community Board for consideration.

“We’re hoping to be able to start work on the upgrade in autumn next year and to have all the new play equipment installed by the spring,’’ Mr Smith said.