Blackpool Reserve playground: Gisborne designs backed by Elgin community
A Gisborne community group is excited about the prospect of finally having a proper playground.
Gisborne District Council plans to deliver the redevelopment of Blackpool Reserve, on Blackpool St in the suburb of Elgin, in stages as funding becomes available.
The council closed public consultation on three designs for the project earlier this month.
Responses from 90 participants showed strong support for creating an inclusive and safe playspace in Elgin.
“People loved nature-based and adventurous play, including climbing, balancing and sensory experiences,” the council said. “There was also support for bringing ideas from the other concepts, including gathering spaces, planting and places to connect.”
The designs, created in partnership with Tūranga Health, E Tū Elgin and Whiti Ora Tairāwhiti, could provide nature-based and inclusive play.
The Stage 1 budget is between $200,000 and $300,000, with $190,000 of that allocated from the council’s three-year plan, ending 2027.
The remaining funds have been set aside from development contributions from housing developments.
E Tū Elgin committee chairwoman Hineiti (Nate) Monika said the Elgin community had needed a playground for more than 20 years.
“I spent a bit of my childhood down Munro St, and we all used to play out on the street, and we used to go to the park.”
Since then, not much had changed.
“The nearest playground is the street in which they live, or we know that tamariki are making makeshift playgrounds at the end of their streets.”
To use a playground, tamariki had to walk to the other side of the suburb to get to Elgin School, which was a long way for younger children, she said.
The playground would provide a space for whānau to connect and support each other.
“At the moment, things are really difficult for our whānau, so having somewhere they can go and hang out with all ages of their tamariki that is within walking distance, or at the end of their street, is a positive.
“I think that they’re happy to know that people do care about Elgin because for the longest time it has felt like we have been forgotten.”
Monika said feeling prioritised would improve the community’s sense of self and facilitate creativity.
“I want to hopefully give them a place to feel safe, to play, to use their imagination and just be mokopuna. Lots of our children are growing up really fast, and we just want them to be able to have fun.”
Tamariki at schools and early childhood centres in Elgin were asked by E Tū Elgin what play equipment was most important to them.
The most popular was included in the three design options, alongside their desire to work with the taiao (environment), Monika said.
“There’s a waterway that runs over there. We’ve all experienced Cyclone Gabrielle and so the tamariki wanted us to start thinking about how we use the elements to our best benefit to have a playground.”
The next steps include refining designs based on feedback and completing design details to confirm what will be delivered in the first stage of the project.
Construction is set to begin in early 2027.
LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air.