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Pāpāmoa outdoor fitness space

Together with Pāpāmoa locals, we’re planning a new outdoor exercise area near the Pāpāmoa Shared Pathway at Parton Road to support accessible physical activity for young people and adults.

Final layout confirmed following survey feedback

Thanks to everyone who provided feedback on our survey to help shape the new fitness space being installed this year. We’re excited to now be in a place to share the final layout (see lower on this page) and types of equipment that’ll be featured.

Exercise equipment included in the outdoor fitness space includes:

  • Calisthenics station including pull-up bars, parallel bars, push-up bar, incline bench and Swedish ladder
  • Overhead press and lateral pulldown
  • Chest press
  • Leg lift and pull up station
  • Dip bench
  • Steppers, including an assisted step with a hand rail
  • Stationary bike

We expect construction to begin in late June, and the new outdoor fitness space to be complete and open to the public by the end of August.

Outdoor fitness area layout

Feedback from our survey has helped shape the outdoor fitness area layout. Changes from the initial concept plan include the fitness space being located further from the road (the path has been realigned to run between the road and the fitness space), separation from the shared path (an area of planting is included between the path and the fitness space) and more space between the pieces of equipment. Shade sails over the seating areas and some of the lower equipment are included and the equipment mix has a stronger focus on calisthenics/body weight over machines.

Outdoor Fitness layout
 

Location

The Parton Road–Pāpāmoa Beach Road site has been identified for an outdoor fitness space because it already has key amenities, is a popular spot for walking and recreation, has good visibility with natural screening, CCTV, and can be integrated into the Pāpāmoa Coastal Pathways extension project.

Proposed exercise station

Outdoor fitness space location

Construction is planned for mid-2026, but the design journey is just getting started.

Budget and funding

Up to $150,000 has been allocated from the Spaces and Places budgets this year. The installation of outdoor exercise equipment was included as a project in the play programme approved by Council at the 7 April 2025 City Delivery Committee meeting.

FAQs

Existing outdoor fitness equipment is located at Wells Ave Reserve (Mount Maunganui), Te Kio Reserve (Pāpāmoa), Liston Park (Greerton) and Kulim Park (active aging gym), with new calisthenics equipment recently installed at Liston Park. Fergusson Park also features extensive ‘monkey bars’.

Recent research shows that well‑designed and thoughtfully located outdoor fitness equipment can help increase physical activity levels in communities. While Tauranga’s parks and reserves already provide great spaces for children’s play, organised sports and general recreation, outdoor exercise equipment fills an important gap — offering accessible opportunities for adults and older youth to engage in informal, self‑directed strength and fitness activities.

There has been consistent community demand for this type of equipment across the city, and feedback highlights the value of accessible exercise options. Findings from the 2023 Voice of Rangatahi survey also show that “workouts” are the primary way Bay of Plenty rangatahi keep active outside of school, with participation growing as they progress through school.

Outdoor fitness spaces also support health, wellbeing and social connection, and align with Council’s Reserves Management Plan and the Play, Active Recreation and Sport Action and Investment Plan, which encourage creating dynamic and inclusive recreation spaces.

The new Parton Road fitness station will be monitored to understand how it is used and to help guide decisions about future installations in other parts of Tauranga.

Pāpāmoa Reserves upgrades

Exciting improvements are coming to Pāpāmoa this year as we continue creating vibrant, accessible spaces for our community. These projects include Stage Two of the Pāpāmoa Shared Pathway (from Parton Road to Taylor Reserve) and the development of a new destination playground at Simpson Reserve.

Keep up to date on these upgrades by signing up for Pāpāmoa Reserves upgrades e-news.

Papamoa reserves upgrade plans in 2026

Key dates

  • Feedback opens

    Monday, 23 February 2026

  • Feedback closes

    5pm, Monday, 16 March 2026

  • Review feedback

    March 2026

  • Design development

    April 2026

  • Construction begins

    From mid-2026

Who's listening

Spaces and Places team
Tauranga City Council

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

Sign up to stay informed

If you want to receive updates, sign up for our e-Newsletter. 

Pāpāmoa Reserves upgrades e-Newsletter

Want to find out more?

This project is part of the work we are doing to upgrade our local neighbourhood playgrounds and reserves, including the Pāpāmoa Shared Pathway Stage 2.

Playground and reserves upgrades

Neighbourhoods

Find out what other projects are happening in Pāpāmoa.

Pāpāmoa projects

 

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