Viewpoint – More than just a playground

Recently, on a visit to Ōrewa Beach School, Mr T (an Auckland Council staff member) came and worked with a focus group of students to talk about what they value in a playground.

“Mr T, can we have monkey bars and a swimming pool and an underground tunnel at the new playground?”

Mr T did well to navigate his way through that request. It came from an over-excited six-year-old who had just mastered the monkey bars herself and was clearly ready to put her newfound skills to good use.

Playgrounds and spaces are where children meet their friends after school, where siblings play together and where parents and grandparents stop for a chat. It is somewhere that a new family moving into the neighbourhood can start to feel connected.

In our local board area, we have a network of different types of playgrounds. Neighbourhood playgrounds are important local spaces for families to easily access and use regularly, while larger destination playgrounds offer something different and can attract people from further afield. Both have an important role to play, and both should be places that children enjoy, families feel welcome and communities can connect.

As our neighbourhoods grow and more homes are built, we also need to think carefully about the spaces around those homes. It is time for developers to install and fund playgrounds and play spaces in large-scale developments directly, so that residents and families don’t have to wait years to enjoy the amenities that should be available to them.

A good playground and space can become a real asset to a community; somewhere children want to go, families spend time together and friendships are made. That kind of planning is what helps turn a new development into a community. That sense of belonging matters.

Inclusive play needs to be part of the conversation from the beginning. This means considering children with different abilities, different ages and different ways of playing. It also means thinking beyond the equipment itself. It is about accessible pathways, seating, shade, visibility and spaces where families can comfortably spend time together.

When we talk about building great communities, we often talk about roads, houses, footpaths and infrastructure. All of those things matter. But we also need places where people can stop, play, meet and connect.

That is what I hope we can achieve at Brunton Park, not simply a new set of playground equipment, but a space that reflects the children who will use it, welcomes everyone and becomes a place where friendships and connections are made for years to come.

And if we can make those monkey bars work, I think that six-year-old will be very happy indeed.