There are now more ways than ever for South Auckland residents to enjoy the park life, with upgraded playgrounds, new outdoor sports equipment, state-of-the-art playing fields and fruitful community rejuvenation projects. These projects, funded by the Ōtara-Papatoetoe and Māngere-Ōtāhuhu local boards, have made it easier for residents to enjoy the fresh air in their local parks. Here are four recent refreshes to check out:
Pitch perfect
Rain delays are a thing of the past at the Papatoetoe Recreation Grounds. Papatoetoe Rugby Football Club is one club that uses the grounds, and in the past some of their matches had been postponed due to poor field conditions, but $2 million upgrades to the two rugby fields and training areas – including the installation of drainage, sand substrate and irrigation and new LED lights – have created pitch-perfect playing conditions.
The $2 million upgrades at Papatoetoe Recreation Grounds include new lights and drainage on the rugby field.
At Kolmar, which is located at the Papatoetoe Recreation Ground, a hockey field has also been resurfaced. The world class turf is now upgraded to an international standard.
Ōtara-Papatoetoe and Māngere-Ōtāhuhu local boards also supported Papatoetoe Rugby Club’s Under-12 Warriors mixed team and Under-13 Red Diamonds open girls’ team on a recent player development trip to Brisbane.
The upgrades aim to bolster community participation in sports and increase wellbeing – and they can help nurture a new generation of sporting greats.
Stay fit in Papatoetoe
After 25 years of use by the Papatoetoe and Māngere East community, the well-loved Aorere Park playground needed an upgrade. Thanks to a $2.2 million rejuvenation project, the community can now enjoy colourful new park facilities. The updated play areas include a slide tower, rope play space, swings, water play area and toddler play area. There are also new toilets and changing rooms for those playing on the popular sports field and outdoor equipment for adults and older children to stay active.
The new playground at Aorere Park features a slide tower, rope play space, swings, water play area and toddler play area.
Life’s a peach
Papatoetoe’s Puhinui Domain has just undergone a fruitful rejuvenation project. Seventeen fruit trees have been planted in the park to provide fruit for the community once the trees have grown. The new orchard on the edge of the park includes fig, apple, nectarine, peach and Japanese plums, as well as edible shrubs like bay. The park has also been planted with native trees including pūriri, which provides food for native birds nearly year-round – kererū love the fruit, while tūī and korimako (bellbirds) enjoy the flowers.
The orchard planting is part of the Te Whakaoranga o te Puhinui regeneration project led by Eke Punuku focused on rejuvenating Te Puhinui (Puhinui Stream). The stream runs from Tōtara Park and through the suburbs before flowing into Manukau Harbour, and the sustainability project acknowledges the importance of the health of Te Puhinui to the wellbeing of the community. The long-term project also aims to provide the community with sources of kai (food) and food sovereignty (independence).
Upgrades at Puhinui Domain are part of the Te Whakaoranga o te Puhinui regeneration project which aims to improve the health of Puhinui Stream and the wellbeing of the community.
Pearl of the community
The Ōtara community now has a fantastic new outdoor area for play and recreation. The playground at Pearl Baker Reserve features new state-of-the-art play equipment for tamariki including large climbing nets, ninja logs, swings, a mini ground trampoline, a carousel/spinner and a preschool adventure mini tower. There’s also a colourful basketball half-court for group sports. Adults can stay active outdoors in the new fitness machines for adults and teens.
The new playground at Pearl Baker Reserve features a colourful climbing net tower, ninja logs, swings, a mini ground trampoline, a carousel/spinner and a preschool adventure mini tower.
The park is connected to an upgraded pram and wheelchair-friendly footpath which increases accessibility for young families and those with disabilities, which was the vision of the late Fa’anānā Efeso Collins. The refreshed footpath circles the reserve and connects to a kindergarten, primary school, te kōhanga reo and East Tāmaki Rugby Football Club.
