Work resumes on Flaxmere Park playground upgrade
Work on the Flaxmere Park playground upgrade is set to recommence next week and is expected to take about three months to complete.
Work on the upgrade was delayed late last year amid concerns the new play equipment would not arrive in time for the new playground to be ready in time for the Christmas and New Year holidays.
The decision was made to put off the work to allow the playground to remain open over the summer holiday period, but the work will now resume as of Monday, March 4.
The 17-hectare Flaxmere Park has been undergoing an overall upgrade as part of a $1.2m 10-year plan for the park.
Over the last seven years, $900,000 of that money has been spent on the likes of a new splash pad, new toilets, fencing, lighting, car parking, picnic furniture, exercise stations and the shared walking and cycling track.
Feedback from the Flaxmere community indicated a desire for the rest of the funds to be spent on play equipment, which has now all been purchased and includes a 7.2m high climbing frame – the tallest in the district.
Successful funding applications to Trust House Community Enterprise ($25,000) and First Light Community Foundation ($20,000) meant a new large slide tower could also be purchased.
Groundworks, including the removal of two trees that were a safety risk, began last year, and next week work will begin in earnest to complete the project in time for the Matariki celebrations being held at Flaxmere Park in June.
Flaxmere ward councillor Henare O’Keefe said the “people have spoken – their heartfelt thoughts and wishes have been a vital part of the makeup of the redevelopment beginning on March 4.
“This park is for the people, by the people, of the people”.
He added that it was timely, and appropriate, that the completion of the park was set to coincide with the Matariki celebrations in June, heralding the start of a new year.
