to 64 - Palmerston North City Council

Play in the CityVisionTo provide a fun, welcoming,safe and stimulatingenvironment for all agesBackgroundThe ability for people of all ages to ‘play’ within the city centrehas an important role in delivering a vibrant, caring, innovativeand sustainable place to live, work and visit.In addition to the Urban Design Strategy, the Active RecreationStrategy 2012 is the primary document that addresses theneed for play provision within Palmerston North.This KD is aimed at encouraging opportunities for families andindividuals to socialise and play within the city centre.Play InterventionsThe Active Recreation Strategy 2012 indicates that there isgrowing international recognition that children play whereverand whenever they can. The traditional response of providingfixed equipment within fenced-off areas is seen by many as aninappropriate response to meet children’s play needs. Thefavoured response is to make many more environments forchildren fun, interesting and stimulating, particularly utilisingnatural features.Whilst investment in play space needs to continue while thechild population grows in the city, there is an opportunity toutilise the availability of local parks and reserves, in combinationwith the Council’s place-making initiatives, to make the citymuch more playful.Play inventions maybe as simple as painting a hopscotch on apublic footpath, replacing car parking spaces with sandpits,through to organising large play focussed community events.More permanent play facilities should also be integrated intothe city’s infrastructure such as public art, furniture, retainingwalls and the general design of the public realm.49DRAFT CCF FOR PALMERSTON NORTH key directions [ kd7 play in the city ]Touchable water is a big attraction for all ages.