Timaru’s $3m playground wins national award

Friday, 31 May 2024

An aerial view of Timaru's new CPlay playground that will be celebrated on Sunday with a community party.

Timaru’s $3 million playground, thought to be the biggest playground in the southern hemisphere, has another claim to fame after winning a national award.

CPlay, which opened at Caroline Bay in December 2023, won Playspace of the Year (over $500,000) at the Recreation Aotearoa Parks Awards held in Christchurch on Thursday night.

The project’s chairperson Owen Jackson said the award was validation for the committee of volunteers who had worked tirelessly over the past five years to make the playground idea a reality.

“For them to give up their time, energy and their families to make that happen,’’ Jackson said. “I’m just really happy and proud for them.’’

Jackson said the community feedback since the playground opened endorsed what the committee had done.

CPlay committee members, from left, Owen Jackson, Vicki Gould, Lynette Wilson, Roselyn and Chris Fauth, Leanne Prendeville and Sarah Mills last month after learning the playground was a finalist in the Playspace of the Year (over $500,000) award.

“It’s been built by the community, for the community.

“We wanted it to be inclusive, we wanted to tell our story.’’

The annual Parks Awards are an opportunity to recognise the people, places and spaces, and it is the first time the Playspace of the Year (over $500,000) award has been given out.

Six finalists were named in the category, each demonstrating intentional development, innovative design, mana whenua acknowledgement, accessibility, and inclusivity.

Awards judges highlighted CPlay as an example of an outstanding collaboration between the community, mana whenua, the Timaru District Council and the CPlay committee.

Judges commended the focus on inclusive play, describing it as a beautiful space for the community.

Te Kapua Park Papa Tākaro, designed by Taupō District Council and Ngāti Tūrangitukua, and Magical Bridge Playground, designed by Hamilton City Council and Magical Bridge Trust, each received merit awards in the category.

Recreation Aotearoa parks, play and open spaces programme manager Kieran Smith said “parks and open spaces play an important role in a community’s social, economic, and physical wellbeing’’.

Ayla, 9, and Belle Burnard, 7, at the CPlay open day last December.

“These awards are about recognising those places, spaces and people that help all New Zealanders live an active, healthier, more-connected life,’’ Smith said.

“CPlay Caroline Bay Playground is an example of how a community can work together to create an inclusive space, which can be accessed by everyone in that community. It’s wonderful to see accessibility and inclusivity being considered in modern park planning and design.”