If you’re looking for a shady spot to hang out in this summer, keep an eye out for some of the new shade sails Tauranga City Council is putting up in the city’s parks and reserves.
Council is progressively increasing shaded areas in the city’s network of reserves, prioritising places where people spend the most time, such as sports field reserves and playgrounds.
Through the 2021-2031 Long-term Plan, approximately $400,000 per year was allocated to installing artificial shade sails over playgrounds and approximately $60,000 per year for planting large shade trees.
Commission Chair Anne Tolley says a number of submissions to the Long-term Plan supported shade provision in parks and people regularly tell Council they want shade provided in their local amenities.
“People are really excited that we have a shade programme rolling out across the city. Not only does shade provide an extra layer of protection from the sun, but it also helps to protect us against skin cancers.”
Anne says a large role of councils is placemaking. “This is about creating places that people will visit and enjoy, so we have a responsibility to make them safe. With climate change and rising temperatures, it’s really important to think about how we shade these spaces.
“We want to see people protected from the sun, but we also want more trees planted to provide natural shade for people and provide habitat and kai for wildlife.”
During the 2022-2023 year, 18 parks and reserves around the city have either already had artificial shade installed, or will have over the next few months.
Playgrounds that have received shade sails in 2022 include:
- Ohauiti: Ila Park (as part of a larger upgrade)
- The Lakes: Te Ranga Memorial Reserve, Matatu Reserve, Pakanga Reserve, Awataha Reserve, Matepu Reserve, Orangapani Reserve (as part of a larger upgrade)
- Bethlehem: Gordon Carmichael Reserve
- Mount Maunganui: Hopukiore – Mount Drury Reserve (over slide)
- Pacific Park (as part of a larger upgrade)
- Pāpāmoa: Gordon Spratt Reserve (over table)
- Tauranga South: 17th Avenue skate park (over table).
Playgrounds to receive shade sails in early 2023 are:
- Welcome Bay: Oteki Reserve, Riverstone Park and Maungarangi Reserve
- Ōtūmoetai: Carlton Street Reserve (playground and skate park)
- Parkvale: Tutarawānanga - Yatton Park (over the barbecue).
The next round of programming for shade sails will be determined in early 2023.