Council values children’s input into playground design

The results of children’s thoughts on playground design were revealed when the revamped
Hakanoa Playground was officially opened on Friday 9 July.

A critical part of this Waikato District Council project was early engagement with potential users of the playground.

So, the project team visited Huntly West Primary School, Huntly Primary School, Kimihia Primary School, Tic Tac Toe Educare and Central Kids Kindergarten before concept designs were finalised.

They were asked what sort of equipment and layout they would like to see at the playground.

After that, a final design was put together, featuring equipment like a basket swing, slides and climbing frame, spinner, timber play structure and a scooter track.

“This playground is a marked improvement on what was there before,” says Waikato District Council Project Manager Cory Cullen.

“By engaging with local children early on in the process, we think we have landed on a fun playground that the local kids wanted and will love to play on.”

The playground, which is by the swimming pool on Huntly Domain, was officially opened with a blessing by local kaumatua Haihai Heta and a welcome by Huntly Community Board Chair David Whyte.

The playground was designed by Georgina Hailwood from BrodieHailwood, built by HEB Construction, and CityCare carried out all the soft landscaping work.