With a big boost from the Māngere-Ōtāhuhu local board, the beloved Seaside Park in Ōtāhuhu has been given a fin-tastic makeover, and the community are shell-abrating with joy!
A network of paths encircles the sports fields and extends through the bush area on the southern side, where the new seawall, planting, stormwater, and marine works were completed in August last year.
With the recent completion of the car park refurbishment, the final piece of the jigsaw is in place.
Seaside Park spans nearly 17 hectares, is home to the local football, badminton and sea scouts’ clubs and offers breathtaking views of the Tamaki Estuary, Highbrook and Maungarei (Mt Wellington).
Board chair Tauanu’u Nick Bakulich says, “This is a significant milestone for our board. Seaside Park has historically been one of many underfunded facilities in Ōtāhuhu, and our advocacy for equitable funding has paid off, allowing us to give our community what they have been asking for and provide high-quality facilities for our community.”
The overall renewal programme involved resurfacing, kerb replacement, repainting of parking lines and making necessary repairs to ensure a smooth and well-maintained parking for the sports clubs, community, and the public.
Improved from all angles.
“Seaside Park is a popular community hub for both sports enthusiasts and those seeking tranquil walks with scenic views. Last year, there was a rebuild of the seawall and coastal assets along water edge. The carpark and accessway were previously marred by potholes and uneven surfaces, posing real safety risks in such a well-used area.
Since the renewal, the community has expressed overwhelming appreciation, with Ōtāhuhu United AFC, the parks club, also thrilled with the enhancements. We're proud to have contributed to enhancing yet another of our community's beloved parks and spaces,” says Bakulich.
The work site encompassed the entire accessway along Princess Street East, a key thoroughfare providing access to the south motorway, Sylvia Park, and Manukau, and its adjacent carparks.
Manager Area Operations Bill Teaukura comments, “The ageing carpark required renewal and thanks to the local board, they provided additional funding on top of the capex budget for the work.
Stage one of the project started last year 2023 on the eastern carpark resurfacing, the stage two focused on the resurfacing the accessway and the two carparks at the entry and opposite the badminton club. The team are all very stoked that it is completed.”
The old worn-out condition of the accessway and adjacent carparks.
A playground, toilets, picnic tables and seating are inside the park. The tall palm trees and fresh sea breeze give the park an almost tropical feel. Seaside Park lives up to its name!
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