Thanks to community input, a playground nearing its final days has been made whole again.
Work began in July 2024 on the Santa Cruz Playground in Flatbush to create a safer and more secure play environment for children.
The Howick Local Board invested $55,000 in an upgrade to create vibrant recreational spaces that are not only well-used but also enjoyed by the community.
Board chair Damian Light says, “We’re pleased to see this playground updated to ensure it’s safe and fun for local tamariki. It looks fantastic and we know locals will enjoy the improvements! It’s part of our ongoing efforts to deliver a cost-effective playground network across the communities we serve.”
New and improved Santa Cruz playground, Flatbush.
The Parks and Community Facilities team spearheaded a fantastic upgrade, transforming the old playground into a much better play area.
The project involved removing outdated features like soft fall mulch, timber edge boards, and the mowing strip, while adding a new drain along the northern boundary. To boost safety, scuff mats were installed under the swings.
By early September, the playground was completed and ready to offer a fresh, secure play experience for the kids.
Light adds, “Due to space and budget constraints we cannot upgrade every playground to have everything that we’d love to see (like fencing, greater accessibility and sensory opportunities). However, we’re excited to share that our new destination playground at Barry Curtis Park will deliver these for the community.”
Overall, the community was thrilled to see Council staff engaged with the playground during the initial investigations, and many were present during the final handover as well. Their gratitude was evident as they expressed appreciation for the improvements made to the playground.
Santa Cruz before the makeover.
Stay connected
Sign up to receive our Howick Local Board monthly e-newsletters.
