Section of Pioneer Park Playground to close for maintenance

A section of Pioneer Park Playground in Te Awamutu will be fenced off from Tuesday 2 March while maintenance is carried out.

Expected to take around two weeks to complete, Waipā District Council is removing and replacing the old and compacted woodchip which acts as a safety surface under the play equipment.

While this work is underway, drainage improvements will also be carried out above and adjacent to the Pioneer Walkway behind the Te Awamutu Events Centre.

The flying fox, climbing frame, swing set, water-play area, spinning tops, hamster wheel and merry-go-round will be out-of-bounds for playtime while work takes place.

The toddler area, circle swing, wooden modular playground and Pop ‘N’ Good bike skills park along Gorst Avenue will all remain open.

Waipā District Council community facilities team leader Brad Ward said the new woodchip would provide more cushioning for active children and provide the relevant requirements to meet playground safety standards.

“These improvements are part of Council’s playgrounds maintenance and renewal programmes which ensures the district’s play spaces continue to be safe and up to scratch for our tamariki.

“We know this site is very popular with both locals and domestic visitors, so keeping this area compliant is crucial for those inevitable slips and trips that occur when the playground is used.”

“We ask the public to please stay away from the immediate work zone to allow the contractors to undertake their work safely - but there are still great play options nearby,” Ward said.

Nearby playgrounds include Memorial Park playground, a short 450m walk along Pioneer Walkway, and Victoria Park on Teasdale Street.

Pioneer Park Playground is one of the Waipā district’s most popular play spaces and was upgraded with new equipment in February 2018.