Waikanae Park – Concept plans for skatepark and play area

Playgrounds should offer joy and excitement across a range of experiences. Our concept plan proposes to offer a range of play experiences which our community told us they value. These include:

Accessibility and inclusivity

We’re creating a playground for every child, regardless of age, ability, or background. Our new playground will offer something for everyone ensuring that no child is left out. It considers various needs, from the toddler who is taking their first adventurous steps to teenagers and adults seeking a thrill. It’s also about creating spaces that are accessible and enjoyable for children with disabilities.

Skill development

Play is an educational journey. Whether it’s a game that develops strategic thinking or equipment that builds physical agility, a good playground is fun and shapes a child’s social, cognitive, and emotional growth.

Engagement

We want the playground to engage children physically, mentally and emotionally. It should captivate children, keeping them interested and challenged. It transforms ordinary play into an immersive experience. Equipment that supports group play will be part of the new playground.

Safety

We aim is to provide a safe place for play that still pushes the boundaries of skill, imagination and discovery. Safety features include fencing the toddler area, clear lines of sight, providing shade from the sun and the elements, having light levels to illuminate shapes and faces at night, being able to fall safely.

Structured versus free play

Our concept plan aims to strike a balance between structured play such as sliding, swinging, hanging, rocking, balancing and spinning, and free play activities such as crawling, climbing, jumping, playing with a ball, creative play and sensory play.

Download concept plan

We propose the design for the upgraded park will recognise the significance of the park to mana whenua and the geographical features that shape it.

The skatepark and playground sit on an area which was once the floor of the Waimea River.

The Waimea River flowed through dense lowland forest and wetlands, helping sustain rich ecosystems long before European contact. Māori communities occupied sites near the river and the estuary, using the waterways for access and, fishing.

Over the years, due to natural events such as flooding and earthquakes as well as land clearing, drainage, and channel realignment for agriculture and settlement, the Waimea River was cut off from its headwaters and became a stream.

The bank leading up to the kohekohe stand was once the bank of the Waimea River.

The remnant stand of kohekohe trees in the park is a rare surviving patch of forest that was once much more common in the region. It is recognised as an ecological site valued for its biodiversity and historical significance. The kohekohe provide a direct link to the Kāpiti District’s ancient natural environment, most likely tracing its origins to a time well before European settlement.

As we upgrade the park, our design will acknowledge the Waimea River and the kohekohe stand. Paths will meander between areas as the river once did, and natural materials will be used to mimic the area’s natural features. Colours will reflect the birds and insects which once inhabited the area.

We will also take account of the feedback we’ve received from our community on how they use the park and what makes them play. Play equipment will be carefully selected to cater for all ages and abilities, and to provide a range of play experiences. It’ll be placed to respond to the natural geography of the site and to allow progression from toddlers to teenagers and beyond. We’ll keep children safe by fencing the toddlers’ area, and by providing multiple shade and seating areas. There will be a new toilet block, a barbeque area, and at least two drinking fountains.

In July and August 2025, we asked you to share your ideas to help us design a concept plan for the Waikanae Park skatepark and play area. You can view this engagement and the ideas board below.

Help us design a concept plan for the Waikanae Park skatepark and play area

Share your ideas

Waikanae Park is one of our most popular ‘destination’ parks. This means it has activities and facilities that attract people from all over the region, not just the immediate neighbourhood.

It’s home to several recreational and sporting clubs. It hosts a weekly Saturday market and has a popular playground, skatepark, and pump track. However, the skatepark has now been closed due to safety concerns. As a result, we’ve brought forward plans to rebuild the skatepark in tandem with an upgrade of the playground.

We want to create spaces that are fun, varied and accessible for a wide range of abilities. The skatepark is a major investment so we want it to complement rather than mirror what’s on offer at our Maclean Park Skatepark.

We’re contracting a landscape architect to develop a ‘concept plan’ for the skatepark and playground and we want your input.

Concept planning

A concept plan is for a specific area and outlines what is wanted and where. It considers the best places to site facilities or activities in relation to each other and their surroundings. It considers a community’s vision for how the space will be used and how to get the best use out of the site. It might consider the equipment, plantings, or furniture needed to meet the community’s vision. A ‘concept plan’ sits under the ‘master plan’ - Read the improvements recommended in the master plan for Waikanae Park

Your play, your say | We asked for your feedback

For the skatepark: Whether you’re a skateboarder, or scooter or BMX rider, your voice matters. What should we consider when deciding:

• where the skatepark should go
• what it should include

For the playground: Parents, caregivers, teachers and users:

• what equipment would you like to see
• any thoughts on shade, safety, seating, accessibility, drinking fountains etc

This will help us decide:

• where facilities go in relation to each other
• what spaces are needed to make the whole area fun, enticing, and safer and more usable.