The Relocation Project
Background
Playcentre has a long and proud history in Mount Maunganui, supporting child-led play from its Blake Park home since 1974. With more than 120 families currently making use of this facility each week, support for this type of learning environment is stronger than ever.
As part of Tauranga City Councils’ long-term planning, Blake Park is being redeveloped to become a dedicated sports ground with improved facilities for a growing variety of sports and users. As part of this planning, the council identified the need to relocate Mount Maunganui Playcentre in 2005 and has been working with our centre to find a suitable alternative. Tatua Reserve was an option that was explored from 2017 - 2020, with designs and lease agreements drafted and discussed with the council, but never progressed to council sign-off.
In 2020, when the Omanu Bowls Club was disbanded, the location of our new centre was confirmed. This came after many years of Council working with Playcentre to find an appropriate alternative site. On 25 August 2022, a portion of Golf Road Reserve was reclassified to accommodate Mount Maunganui Playcentre, and First Principles Architects was engaged to begin a new design for the new site.
Despite financial support from Playcentre Aotearoa, the Ministry of Education and the Tauranga City Council, we still need to cover the cost of the new building.
Nestled in a large, natural space within Golf Road Reserve, the new Mount Maunganui Playcentre will be a modern, purpose-built centre designed with children in mind.
Positioned on 1000 square metres of land adjoining a community centre and community gardens, the area is North East facing. Designers, First Principles Architects, have planned a 169 square metre centre with a wrapped deck, allowing for sessions in all weather.
A spacious outdoor playspace will provide opportunities for children zero to six years to share learning opportunities, challenge themselves and explore. Fruit trees and gardens will allow the children to learn about sustainability and growing their own kai, plus a vibrant outdoor mural featuring our fundraising sponsors and donors will sit along the Southern wall of the building.
Our new home
Inside, there will be a purpose-built kitchen with a lowered bench where children can help prepare healthy snacks and meals. There will be sixteen different play zones, set up to allow tamariki to discover and experience art, movement, construction and cooking, all while learning and developing through play.
In addition, our centre will be a place for members and our wider community, including SPACE groups for parents, neighbouring clubs and local hapū looking to make connections with their community.
Your support will ensure we raise the additional funds we need to complete the construction of a brand new Playcentre at Golf Road Reserve.
Project timeline
Golf Road Reserve is a 8,240m2 Council owned reserve located at 62 to 64 Golf Road. On 25 August 2022 Council reclassified a portion of the reserve to accommodate Mount Maunganui Playcentre.
The reserve is already home to the new Surf Life Saving New Zealand regional headquarters and in the coming years, as well as the new purpose-built Mount Maunganui Playcentre, the council has plans to add a community garden and develop a community centre.
As well as supporting the parents, caregivers and children at our new location, Mount Maunganui Playcentre is looking forward to forming new relationships with the other community groups neighbouring the reserve. This includes the Omanu Surf Lifesaving Club, Surf Life Saving New Zealand, Mount Golf Course and Mount Maunganui Bridge Club.
Many of our Playcentre whānau belong to the Omanu Surf Lifesaving Club with their older children and our new premises will allow our Centre to work with this Club to explore opportunities for increased membership with the Club, water safety education and surf lifesaving focused outdoor education.
We have received positive feedback from Ngāti Kuku and Ngāi Tukairangi hapū on the project and are exploring ways in which to work with them moving forward to encourage members of the hapū to participate in Playcentre. Mount Maunganui Playcentre is proud to have worked with a number partners including local businesses, organisations and community groups during our relocation project.
