by Phelan Pirrie, Chair, Local Rodney Board
The Rodney Local Board is developing a neighbourhood play space at Cabeleigh Drive Pond Reserve in Helensville. It is partially funded by the Development Contributions from new housing in the area.
The playground will cater for a range of ages including preschoolers, primary and intermediate children, and possibly teenagers. We would also like to create a new pathway through the reserve and install seating to provide further recreational value.
The existing reserve has a stormwater pond and stream that needs to be considered in the design. The playground design must ensure that children are not encouraged to go near the water. The site currently has poor drainage and lacks an all-weather path to provide access through the reserve.
The concept design is influenced by nature and includes a junior play space, an intermediate/teen playspace and formal play equipment.
The junior play space includes low lying logs, which provide a miniature form of nature play, rocks which create a boundary to the space and provide informal play elements and rocks intermixed with seating to separate the junior and intermediate areas.
The intermediate/teen area incorporates a more challenging nature play inspired playspace with a net platform which allows children to climb up the sides of the structure and hang out on the net, a slide and a tire swing.
We would like to know what you think of the proposed playground design and we are also interested to hear which ages of children would use the playground and the elements they’d like to see, such as seating, shade, slides and swings.
You can give your feedback via the website https://www.aucklandcouncil.govt.nz/have-your-say/topics-you-can-have-your-say-on/cabeleigh-playground-concept-plan/Pages/default.aspx