Destination skate park project

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.

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.  

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

Resources

Document library

Commissioners approve increase to destination skate park project budget 
Long-term Plan 2021-2031

Latest news

A skate park for all abilities
Destination skate park secures community grants
Destination skate park coming to Tauranga
Skate park design process ready to roll
Have your say on how you want to skate in Tauranga

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.