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Thank you to those who provided feedback on the concept design for Pirongia's future skatepark.
Community feedback was used to develop a skatepark concept plan, which we consulted on in July last year. Local children and other residents who provided their feedback on the plan gave it the ‘big thumbs up’ and no significant changes were made to the plans.
Skatepark concept design
Background
Through the 2021-2031 Long-Term Plan submissions, the community made it clear more play and recreation facilities were needed for young people in Pirongia.
This led to a $100,000 budget being approved. This has funded the project and site optioneering, including geotech, heritage authority, consents, planning and design etc.
The location for the future skatepark has been identified as 341 Franklin Street, directly next to the Pirongia Rugby and Sports Club.
The future skatepark will be fundraised for by the community. How much the community can fund will determine when construction starts and how long it will take to complete the skatepark (it may be done in stages).
This is a joint project with the Pirongia Skatepark Community Project team, who are leading the fundraising efforts . If you have ideas for fundraising or would like to contribute to this project, please visit www.pirongiaskatepark.nz
Engagement
Phase 2
Nearly 140 people participated in the consultation last August through an online and hardcopy survey, a drop-in session and an engagement session at Pirongia School. Most of the responses came from Pirongia School students, with 87 percent of feedback from tamariki aged 15 and younger.
Phase 1
In October last year, we asked you what you wanted the future Pirongia Skatepark to look like and to include. We received 84 responses and have incorporated that feedback into the skatepark concept design.
Top three results
Frequently asked questions
The community made it clear through their 2021-2031 Long Term Plan submissions that they wanted more play and recreation facilities for young people.
We recognise there has been a lack of space and suitable skate facilities in Pirongia for youth and we want to address that. Skaters won’t have to travel out of the village, they will have their own facility in their town.
We will analyse all the feedback provided and it will go towards adapting the concept design to form the finalised skatepark design.
The Pirongia skatepark will be built after a design has been finalised and community fundraising has raised enough to complete the build or do it in stages.
The original skateparks in Te Awamutu and Cambridge were both funded by community fundraising and then the assets were vested to Council many years ago. From there the maintenance of them became Council’s responsibility and once they were irreparable the decision was made to replace them – as per the 2021-2031 Long Term Plan funding allocation.
The same will apply to the Pirongia and Kihikihi skateparks once they have been built, any maintenance and/or replacement into the future will be looked after by Council.
