× Search

Girl looking up with playground images around her

Whakahoutanga papa tākaro o Tauranga takiwā

Tauranga local neighbourhood playground and reserves upgrades

Tauranga is home to more than 100 playgrounds, many of which need to be renewed in the next decade.

Over the next decade, many of our playgrounds originally constructed in the 1990s will need to be renewed. Our goal is to create and build a comprehensive network of playgrounds across Tauranga, ensuring every neighbourhood has access to fun and engaging play spaces.

Why are we doing this?

We want to make sure there’s a playground within 500m (as the crow flies) of most residential homes in Tauranga City.

Our park renewals focus on four key outcomes – Nature, Culture and Storytelling, Community and Play.

Not sure where your local playground is? View our map of all playgrounds in Tauranga

Playground maps

Three types of playgrounds

We deliver three different types of playgrounds across the city, each with different levels of scope.

Destination playgrounds
These are our biggest attractions - playgrounds that are destinations in their own right, like The Strand Waterfront and Kulim Park.

Major neighbourhood playgrounds
These playgrounds offer more extensive play options than local spaces. They often include active recreation facilities like basketball courts or skate areas and amenities like toilets, and drinking fountains. Examples include Waitaha, Te Papa Tākaro o Tongaparaoa - Ila Park, and Pacific Park.

Local neighbourhood play spaces
These are the most common and are designed for shorter visits by those who walk or wheel from home. Examples include Matua Park, Keam Reserve, and Hills View Reserve.

The four playgrounds we're gathering feedback on are part of the local neighbourhood play space category, meaning the design will focus on play features rather than amenities like BBQs, toilets, and drinking fountains. Please keep this in mind when sharing your thoughts.

Playgrounds set for renewal in 2026:

Looking ahead to next year, the following playgrounds are set for renewal, upgrade, or construction:

  • Haukore Street playground, Hairini
  • Surrey Grove playground, Merivale
  • Allan McBride playground, Gate Pa
  • Carlton Reserve, upgrade to skatepark
  • Simpson Reserve, Destination Playground construction

Playgrounds under construction:

Beaumaris Boulevard Reserve

Beaumaris Boulevard Reserve, Beaumaris Boulevard, Bethlehem

We are revamping Beaumaris Boulevard Reserve for the community to enjoy. Get ready for a fantastic play area with a range of fun equipment, along with more seating, picnic tables and shaded spaces where everyone can relax and connect.

We heard you and your neighbours when you told us you wanted a flying fox and have included this in the design of the new playground.

We anticipate the playground being open for use in July 2025.

Liston Park

Liston Park, Hynds Road, Gate Pā

We are revamping Liston Park for the community to enjoy. Get ready for a bigger and better play area, with exciting new equipment, more seating and picnic areas, and even exercise gear for all ages to enjoy.

As part of this work, we will be considering moving/removing two small trees at the park. Depending on the conditions of the trees, we will replace or relocate them before construction starts.

We anticipate this playground being open for use in August 2025.

Emerald Shores Reserves

Emerald Shores Reserve, Wairakei Avenue, Pāpāmoa

We are creating a new play area at Emerald Shores Reserve for the whole community to enjoy. Get ready for a brand-new playground with fun equipment for all ages, plus more seating and shaded spots for everyone to relax and connect.

We anticipate the playground being open for use in July 2025.

Playground construction coming soon:

Kiriwehi Reserve

Kiriwehi Reserve, Corner of Flack Street and Tabraham Crescent, Pyes Pā

We have gathered your feedback for Kiriwehi Reserve and are looking at the design of the playground area. Key themes were: a range of play equipment, seating, picnic tables and shaded areas.

You can read more in an update shared here.

More playgrounds coming soon!

Key information

Project type
Parks and recreation

Status
Planning

Neighbourhood
Bethlehem
Te Papa
Pāpāmoa
Tauriko
 

Key dates

  • Feedback opens

    Tuesday 3 December 2024
  • Feedback closes

    Wednesday 8 January 2025
  • Concept design shared

    May 2025
  • Construction begins - Beaumaris Boulevard Reserve

    12 May 2025
  • Construction begins - Emerald Shores Reserve

    19 May 2025
  • Construction begins - Liston Park

    Mid-May 2025
  • Construction begins - Kiriwehi Reserve

    Mid 2025
  • Playground open - Beaumaris Boulevard Reserve

    July 2025
  • Playground open - Emerald Shores Reseve

    July 2025
  • Playground open - Liston Park

    August 2025
  • Playground open - Kiriwehi Reserve

    Late 2025

Who's listening

Spaces and Places team
Tauranga City Council

parks.projects@tauranga.govt.nz 
07 577 7000

Resources

Document library

Sign up to stay informed

To keep up to date, you can visit this web page for the latest news, or please sign up for the Tauranga City Council's Weekly Bulletin.

Other ways to get involved

Tauranga is your city. We're working to make it even better.

Tauranga City Council, Private Bag 12022, Tauranga, 3143, New Zealand |Terms of use|Privacy statement

Back To Top