More strategic approach to playgrounds

The Howick Local Board is considering how we take a more strategic approach to providing play. No decisions have been made yet and it's all subject to more consultation.

We're responsible for 70 playgrounds across Howick, Pakūranga, Botany, and Flat Bush but they aren't evenly distributed and some communities are missing out. And we can't afford to maintain what we have or build what our communities need. The Governing Body (Mayor and Councillors) set our budget but have only provided half the funding we need to maintain our existing assets. As a result, too many playgrounds and facilities are falling apart - locals deserve better and we must do something differently.

So last term, I asked the Board to support a strategic approach to playgrounds. We started by asking the community what they wanted. Our survey in early 2025 found that locals wanted more high quality and varied play spaces. Safety and maintenance were the most consistently raised concerns, alongside a strong desire for shade, seating and supporting amenities that make parks comfortable for the whole family. Respondents also identified gaps in provision for specific age groups: under-5s are underserved, older children and teenagers have limited age-appropriate options, and adults lack spaces.

Staff used this valuable feedback to create a plan to respond, as well as reviewing what we provide and where there are gaps (and overlap). The first draft of the new strategy was presented to the Howick Local Board on 13 August and can be found here: https://aucklandcouncil.resolve.red/portal/meeting/12298/100716?type=2&docId=50469

To build better playgrounds within our limited budget, the draft strategy recommends that we consolidate some playgrounds to reduce overlaps and free up funding. This could allow us to reinvest to provide better play or to close the gaps where there's no playgrounds. These changes would be triggered as each playground comes up for renewal and needs replacement, with public consultation for each playground.

The draft strategy identifies 10 playgrounds to consider for optimisation soon - most are close to another one, and consolidating them would allow us to provide a better playground, rather than two average ones. If the playground was removed, the green space would remain for the community to enjoy. Each part of the proposal needs to be considered on its own merits, with strong community input.

The details on the identified playgrounds can be found here:
https://aucklandcouncil.resolve.red/portal/meeting/12297/106362?type=1&docId=37297 Here's a quick summary:
📍Glennandrew and Darren Park, Pakūranga: across the road from each other so staff are recommending we combine into one or at least avoid duplicating play.
📍Reelick Park, Pakūranga: half the catchment is industrial so draft proposal is to remove this playground and re-invest into nearby Archmillen Park.
📍Tiraumea Drive Reserve, Pakūranga: surrounded by a road, so draft proposal is to move the playground across the road, near the toilets which are also due for an upgrade.
📍Ballater Park, Howick: draft proposal is to remove playground and re-invest into nearby Highland Park.
📍Grace Campbell Reserve, Howick: draft proposal is to remove playground and re-invest into nearby Juliet Avenue Reserve.
📍Morrin Cooper Park, Howick: simple swing set, so draft proposal is to remove with potential minor re-investment into Mirrabrooka Park.
📍 Tarnica Park, Botany: draft proposal is to remove playground and re-invest into Logan Carr Reserve, leaving the recently added ball play.
📍 Wayne Francis Park, Botany: draft proposal is to remove playground and re-invest into nearby Clavoy Park and/or Rialto Park.
📍 Topland Park, Flat Bush: overlap with other playgrounds, so draft proposal is to remove and re-invest into nearby Salford Park.

While it's a difficult discussion, I'm pleased that the information is available to the public. These discussions have been held in open workshops with members of the public and local media present. Previously these kind of discussions would be invisible to the public, but last term I successfully fought to move the Board to open workshops by default, with our materials published online.

It's important to note that no decisions have been made. The draft strategy is due to come to the Howick Local Board for approval in early December. And under the draft proposal, each playground would go through public consultation before the Howick Local Board makes the final decision.

I'm keeping an open mind about the challenges and options. However, I would have preferred that the draft strategy be adopted before we started talking about optimising specific playgrounds. And I asked for proactive communications so that the community was informed. As I am no longer the chairperson, those decisions don't sit with me, but I did try.

Personally, I'm not convinced about removing Tarnica as it would leave a gap with no playground. I argued for the minor-renewal that was recently completed but it still needs more work to deal with the damage from arson years ago. Similarly, I'm concerned that removing Wayne Francis Playground would leave a gap in this area, which is densely populated. And I'm also unsure about the proposal for Topland Park in Flat Bush - while there are other playgrounds nearby, there's gaps across Flat Bush and I worry that removing playgrounds before we address the gaps isn't the right approach.

I'll do my best to keep everyone informed, especially as opportunities for public feedback come up.