Work has started on Te Awamutu’s skatepark upgrade in Rewi Street.
Waipā District Council’s contractor Fluhler Contracting Limited, alongside Acid NZ who helped develop the skatepark design, began work on the six-month construction programme at the Centennial Skatepark on Monday.
Large sections of Centennial Park around the skate facility will be closed during the work and there will be limited access to the main carpark.
Council’s Acting Community Services Manager Brad Ward said there was a strong need for a new skatepark in Te Awamutu as many skaters had told the Council they were travelling out of town to better-equipped skateparks.
“The upgraded skatepark will cater to all skill levels and will provide our skate community with a great local facility connected to existing footpaths so they don’t have to travel elsewhere.”
To maximise the potential of the skatepark, Council went through two consultation processes with the community which helped to shape the plans and ensure the new plans were providing the community with what they wanted, Ward said.
“We’re very thankful our community have been so keen to get involved throughout the planning process. We’ve had so much positive feedback during the most recent drop-in session, we think we’ll be delivering a skatepark that everyone is happy with.
“With around 90 people providing feedback on the first draft concept plan, we were able to make the majority of the changes at the start. Getting that early input was paramount to align the final designs with what our communities wanted and we’re really grateful for that.”
As part of the construction, a shaded hang-out zone will also be installed connecting separate activity spaces at the park.
The park will also feature a parkour space and other play features.
The Cambridge Skatepark’s next consultation will be next month and with the revised concept plan and construction is set to start later in the year.
Council is also in the process of identifying appropriate sites for future skateparks in Pirongia and Kihikihi and will be coming to the communities for their input over the year, added Ward.
