1 Mar 2017

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Three Christchurch parks will transform into digital fantasy playgrounds this Saturday, as part of the Parks Week’s Magical Park Challenge.

Christchurch’s Ouruhia Domain, Cypress Gardens Reserve and Wycola Park will play host to a range of virtual guests including a giant T-Rex.

Using a mobile device and the Magical Park app, children will experience a park through a blended virtual world seen through the app once they enter the boundaries of the magical park.

Christchurch City Council Head of Parks Andrew Rutledge said Magical Parks was a new take on the traditional Parks Week which encourages people to get out and enjoy their local parks. 

“This Magical Park Challenge is one way of getting people who don’t often use parks out into nature and enjoying what we have to offer. It’s also a chance to showcase some of our lesser known parks across the city. Magical Parks is going to appeal to anyone with kids but I would also encourage everyone to just take an hour over the next week, visit a local park, and just enjoy the amazing spaces we have on offer in and around Christchurch,” Mr Rutledge said.

The Magical Park app will be live for two weeks.

Melanie Langlotz, the Chief Executive of Geo AR Games who created Magical Park, said the company was leading the charge in Geospatial Augmented Reality, an innovative new concept that combines the great outdoors with mobile gaming.”

"Kids get to interact and explore a fantasy world where they have to herd kittens, run away from the bad fairy or come face to face with a giant T-Rex – all in a local park using your smart phone or tablet.”

New Zealand Recreation Association chief executive Andrew Leslie said he was looking forward to seeing Magical Parks springing up all over Australia and New Zealand during Parks Week.

“We believe combining outdoor play with technology can motivate kids to get off the couch and be more physically active. We can’t reverse technology or progress, nor should we try. What we can do is create healthy relationships with technology by using the screen to get kids outdoors and moving around.”

“Kids love playing mobile games outside, because they get to run around and have fun in an even more engaging way.”

Parks Week, which is managed by the New Zealand Recreation Association (NZRA) and Parks and Leisure Australia (PLA), runs from 4-12 March in 2017.