New, Larger Skate Park Coming To Gordon Spratt Reserve
Gordon Spratt Reserve in Pāpāmoa is set to receive a brand new, larger skate park, according to a recent announcement by the Tauranga City Council. The existing skate park has become outdated and will be demolished to make way for the new facility, which will be constructed over the next few months. The estimated cost for both the demolition and construction is around $500,000, with $43,000 allocated for the demolition and $458,000 for the design and building of the new park. The anticipated opening of the skate park is scheduled for September.
Enhanced features and amenities
The upgraded park will feature smooth surfaces and various additions to enhance the skating experience for all skill levels. It will include a range of quarter pipes and street-style features such as a manual pad, street hip, euro gap, A-frame ramp, stairs, ledges, and rails. Alongside the skate park, the council has recently installed new amenities like a toilet block and seating as part of the reserve’s overall improvement. Additionally, they plan to install new lighting for the skate park, construct a pathway, add a barbecue area, more seating, rubbish bins, bike racks, and shade sails.
Council responds to community feedback
Barbara Dempsey, the council’s general manager of community services, acknowledged the feedback from Tauranga’s growing skateboarding community, stating that the existing skate park no longer met their needs. In response, the council will increase the skate park’s size by approximately 300 square meters, bringing the overall area to approximately 900 square meters. The installation of new lighting will also enable skaters to utilise the park during evenings in the winter, addressing a key concern expressed by the skateboarding community.
Demolition work and recycling process scheduled
Demolition work on the existing skate park is scheduled for May. The process will involve removing the old concrete, crushing it, and recycling the materials. As this work is weather-dependent, a significant portion of the construction will involve pouring new concrete to create the desired layout and smoother surfaces. The council aims to minimise any disruptions caused by the construction by fencing off the site and implementing temporary traffic management measures to ensure safety. Alternative locations for skaters during the construction period include Arataki skate park and Memorial Park “benches.”
Funding approved for new skate park in Mount Maunganui
The funding for the new skate park and other amenity improvements at Gordon Spratt Reserve is sourced from Pāpāmoa Development Contributions, as stated by the council. The upgrade to the Gordon Spratt Reserve skate park follows the approval of funding for a new skate park at the corner of Maunganui and Hull Roads in Mount Maunganui. The $3.6 million park, approved by Tauranga City Council commissioners in February, will feature six different skating experiences, including a flow bowl, surf/skate ditch, competition-style stairs, and a street skate area.
Gordan Spratt Reserve
Image – Tauranga City Council
Artist's impression of the new skatepark for Gordon Spratt Reserve.
Image – Tauranga City Council
An artist's impression of the new destination skatepark planned for the corner of Hull and Maunganui Roads.
Image – Tauranga City Council
The destination skatepark will include a flow bowl.
Image – Tauranga City Council
The destination skatepark will include a snake run.
