Project Description
After being a dream of the local community for a number of years, Wairoa is on track to achieve its Destination Playground in time for the 2016/17 summer.
The Wairoa Young Achievers Trust is driving this project which aims to attract residents and visitors alike to the riverbank in Wairoa’s town centre.
The proposed playground will cater for the needs of children of all ages from pre-schoolers through to teenagers and their families. The planned site is that of the existing playground on Marine Parade with an idea to also incorporate picnic, barbeque and covered seating areas. The Destination Playground will be built to a high national standard, using local materials and labour wherever possible.
The WYAT believed that finding out the community’s combined vision for The Destination Playground would be key to building ownership and a strong sense of community pride. With this in mind, every school-aged child in the district was given the opportunity to submit a wish-list. The final designs have been able to be planned using these combined ideas, while also reflecting the district’s heritage and environment.
The final cost of the project sits between $400,000 and $500,000 and the goal is to have the playground installed for the 2016/17 summer season.
The trust has made tremendous progress with the Lotteries Board granting $100,000. This has been matched by the Wairoa District Council, who have also tagged $100,000 for the project.