Timaru's New Playground At The Bay
The new Caroline Bay playground is nearly finished
Work started on the new Caroline Bay playground in March this year. Now it’s just weeks to go until it will finally be opened with a public party on 10th December.
words: Pattie Pegler images: South Canterbury Drone Photography and C Play
In the meantime the C Play team are asking visitors to the area to just resist the temptation to play for a few more weeks. Currently the area is still a construction site, so for people’s safety and to avoid time consuming and costly repairs, they need people to keep out of the space until that opening party. So just hold on!
The project has been almost seven years in the making – and it’s really worth the wait. For C Play Committee Chair, Owen Jackson, the idea was sparked by a visit to the Margaret Mahy playground in Christchurch, with his young children. He got chatting to a lady from Timaru who was there with her grand-children and they were all loving the playground.
“That’s all it took to set my imagination alight,” says Owen. “Why couldn’t we have a playground like this that brings so much joy to families, surely other people would feel the same way?”
Imagination is one thing, making ideas happen is another. So Owen gathered a team of equally passionate and committed people to get involved and the long process of revamping the playground began.
They have consulted the community, gone out to tender, researched local history, hit the phones to raise funds and much more. Their work has been tireless and a key part of it was putting some real consideration and research into what people needed and wanted – making a playground that is accessible for all and fun for children and grown-ups alike.
Along the way they have also managed to recycle elements of the former playground. The original rubber matting was taken to Numats recycling plant in Oamaru and ground up to form the new rubber flooring for the space. The much-loved horse has been revamped in yellow and the slide and paddling pool will be making a reappearance.
“It has always been about the love for our children,” says Roselyn Fauth of the C Play team. “Bringing people together, sharing stories, playing, learning, caring - ultimately building everyone up for stronger bodies and healthier minds.”
The project still has finishing touches to coordinate – such as plantings, installing shade sails and BBQ facilities and story sharing signage. The story sharing includes creation stories, formation of our land, our flora and fauna, mahika kai and the port story including shipwrecks, sea rescuers, and play at the bay for over a century.
On 10th December visitors to the playground can enjoy over 40 play pieces including a bespoke lighthouse slide tower, a shipwreck, a 5 – 50m tandem flying fox, landscaping and incorporated reproductions of art work. It is set to become a much-loved community space – for children and grown-ups alike.
Roselyn, Owen and the rest of the team are all looking forward to the 10th December when they can finally see happy faces enjoying the space. It took a lot of people and a lot of work but it will be a wonderful addition to the area.
“We want to acknowledge and thank the mammothic team effort by volunteers, supporters, donors, suppliers and contractors to get to where we are at today,” says Roselyn. “It took a village and a village has came together to create this.”
