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Destination skate park project

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We’re going to co-design and identify an appropriate location for a destination skate park for the city, as well as make some upgrades to existing skate facilities.

Update 13 March 2023

Tauranga’s destination skate park for all abilities is a step closer to reality when construction starts next month at the intersection of Maunganui and Hull Roads, in Mount Maunganui. Enabling work has ramped up to ensure the skate park site is ready for construction. For more information, please read the latest media advisory below.

Work ramps up to get Tauranga's destination skate park ready for construction.

Location of destination skate park – Hull Road, Mount Maunganui

The new destination skatepark will be located on the corner of Hull Road and Maunganui Road, opposite the New World supermarket on Maunganui Road.

This site was chosen for a number of reasons, including:

  • its high-profile location which will add value to the surf/skate culture in Tauranga
  • excellent passive surveillance (people can keep an eye out for each other)
  • its proximity to a range of amenities including shops, toilets, Mount Maunganui beach and Blake Park
  • its location on existing cycleway and public transport routes, enabling easier access by foot, bike, skating and other roller modes
  • it can be integrated with planned traffic and pedestrian safety improvements along Maunganui and Hull Roads, and Tweed and Dee Streets in 2023-2024
  • it offers good opportunities for linking different skate zones together.

Enabling works – including fencing, water supply, and power installation – will be happening on site till June 2023.

Design of destination skate park

Stand out features of the destination skate park will include a flow bowl, a surf/skate ditch and competition style stairs, and a street skate area.

It is also designed with other park amenities such as landscaping, toilets, seating, drinking foundations, shade sails and a barbecue so it’s a place where people will want to come and stay, as opposed to being purely a technical skatepark for roller users.  

Destination skate park

An artist's impression of the new destination skate park planned for the corner of Hull and Maunganui Roads.

Flat bowl

The destination skate park will include a flow bowl.

Snake run

The destination skate park will include a snake run.

Survey and co-design group

In October-November 2021 we surveyed wheel-spinning user groups such as skaters, scooters, trick BMX and other roller groups to help inform why and where you skate and what makes a good skate park. There was also an opportunity for you to register your interest to be part of the community design group.

The 24-member community design group met in February, July and August 2022 with the skatepark designer and council staff. With a location now determined, the skate park concept will continue to evolve from this process. Engagement and working with the community in this co-design arrangement is central to the project. 

Read more about the community design group and your response to our survey below.

Skate park design process ready to roll

Speech icon

Talk with a staff member

Call us on 07 577 7000
or email skate@tauranga.govt.nz

Timeline

  • Funding approved for upgrade of existing skate facilities and contribution towards destination skate park in the 2021-2031 Long-term Plan

    July 2021
  • Consulting with skate community

    29 October- 28 November
  • Co-design group selected and concept design process begins

    January 2022
  • Location of destination skate park announced

    June 2022
  • Concept design complete for destination skate park

    Late 2022
  • Memorial Park skate park improvements

    November 2022
  • Design complete for destination skate park

    Early 2023
  • Enabling works for destination skate park

    December 2022 - June 2023
  • Construction of destination skate park begins

    June 2023
  • Gordon Spratt Reserve skate park improvements

    Mid 2023
  • Skate park construction complete

    March 2024

Community grants

Tauranga City Council is being supported in this project by community grants from TECT ($1,023,000), New Zealand Community Trust ($459,370), Lotteries ($528,847) and Project Tauranga ($200,000).

Read more about some of the community grants below.

Destination skate park secures community grants

Skate park workshop

Skate park workshop

The community design group met in February 2022 for the first of a series of design workshops.

Why is Council building a destination skate park?

Through the Long-term Plan we have funding allocated for the upgrade of existing skate facilities and a contribution towards a destination skate park.

Our growing skater community has told us our existing skate facilities are outdated and don’t provide for different skating experiences i.e. scootering, skateboarding, BMX, inline and roller skating.

Tauranga has a long history of being one of Aotearoa’s favourite surfing destinations. This ‘brand’ of outdoor adventure sports also includes skateboarding and other roller sports and is important to the people of Tauranga.

The skating industry has told us more people have been taking up surfing and skateboarding in Tauranga since the addition of these sports to the Olympic programme.

Skating is an accessible and inclusive activity, with active participants from a range of demographics, gender and backgrounds.

Skating provides physical, mental and social benefits. It’s a fun, unstructured, affordable activity that promotes being active and creative in suitable outdoor environments.

Skate park upgrades

In December 2021 we added a new mini ramp – a partnership with Sam Robertson from Sam’s Skate School – and a new wedge ramp to the skate park at Memorial Park.

Some of the feedback we received from the survey was around not having enough facilities for beginner skaters so the addition of a mini ramp at Memorial Park will help young skaters learn how to transition from horizontal to vertical skateboarding before tackling some of the larger vert ramps around the city.

Further improvements to the Memorial Park skate park were completed in November 2022. Working with the community design group and our skate designer, we’ve come up with some super fun street-skate obstacles such as a manual ledge, a pole jam, a glass reinforced concrete (GRC) standard ledge and bank ledge, three different types of kerb grinders, and even a fire hydrant with GRC kicker!

In 2023 we’ll be upgrading the skate park in Gordon Spratt Reserve in Pāpāmoa, so watch this space!

Roller skates

Speech icon

Talk with a staff member

Call us on 07 577 7000
or email skate@tauranga.govt.nz

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