Equipment would be taken out as it wears out, under a draft strategy to do more with less
Auckland Council staff have proposed taking the playgrounds out of eight parks in the Howick Local Board area, and disposing of a ninth.
The proposal went to a Board workshop on 13 August for consideration with no decisions having been made.
Howick Local Board member Damian Light was present at the meeting and explained the approach being taken on his blog.
“Considering the feedback we received from our playground survey, we’re developing a strategy to do more with less,” he says.
The Board has nearly 70 playgrounds, he says, but “we still have gaps in our network which we can’t afford”.
Six parks would lose their play space outright: Glennandrew/Darren Park, Reelick Park, Grace Campbell Reserve, Wayne France Park, Topland Park and Tarnica Park in Northpark.
The play space at Tiraumea Drive Reserve would move to Tiraumea Esplanade Reserve, and Morrin Cooper Park would lose its swings, its only play equipment.
Ballater Park, the ninth, is marked for disposal. Every park on the list would stay open space.
None of it would happen at once. Equipment would come out as it reaches the end of its life.
“We’ll use an opportunity first approach – as existing playgrounds need upgrading or replacing, we’ll consider if they should be relocated to address gaps,” Light says.
Residents have not yet been asked about the strategy, though both staff and the Board’s record of the workshop say people will still be consulted on individual projects.
