Parks Week
23 Feb 2024, 3:06 PM
Welcome to Parks Week 2024, where we're gearing up for and celebrating the heart and soul of our communities – our parks! Picture this: lush greenery, winding trails, and the sweet serenade of nature calling you outdoors. From 2 to 10 March, it's all about embracing the joy of our open spaces and the boundless adventures they offer.
Get ready to kick off the festivities with a cinematic twist – Movies in the Park (**postponed to 16 March due to rain)! But that's just the beginning. Here on the Kāpiti Coast, we're renowned for our stunning parks, from tranquil river tracks to sun-kissed beaches and majestic forests. These natural wonders aren't just pretty sights; they're essential for our wellbeing.
So, why wait? Let's lace up our boots, grab our bikes, or simply take a leisurely stroll – because this Parks Week, the great outdoors is calling, and it's ready to show you just how good it feels to be alive.
Join us as we embark on a journey to discover the magic of our parks and unlock the secrets to a happier, healthier you!
Play
There are so many opportunities for play in our parks, and there is something for all ages and abilities. We operate 49 public playgrounds in neighbourhoods across Kāpiti. Have you discovered our revamped Lorna Irene Drive Reserve playground in Raumati South, which now features a range of accessible play equipment? You’ll find New Zealand’s first wheelchair seesaw, an inclusive swing, musical equipment, a trampoline and a roundabout. Find a playground near you to explore.
Active
From running, biking, horse riding or playing sport, there are so many ways to be active in our parks and wider outdoors. Remember – playgrounds aren’t just for kids! Have you tried out our fitness equipment for adults at Milne Drive Reserve, Haruātai Park, Mazengarb Reserve, Waikanae Park or Otaihanga Domain? Outdoor playground exercise equipment removes two of the most common barriers to exercise — time commitment and cost. Give it a go this week!
Restoration
Amazing people across Kāpiti regularly give their time to enhance, protect and restore our natural environment.
Volunteers have many reasons why they do what they do, from planting trees, building tracks, weeding, monitoring all for the sake of future generations and protecting the whenua. Whatever their reason, we couldn’t do it without them!
To find out more, or to join a group see our Get involved page.
Kaitiakitanga
Kaitiakitanga is a lifelong calling, and often the fruits are not seen in our lifetime. For hapū and iwi of Kāpiti, kaitiakitanga is a role that comes through whakapapa (genealogical connection) with successive responsibilities and obligations to te taiao, ki uta ki tai – the environment from the mountains to the sea.
Our parks spaces hold cultural and historical significance to local hapū and iwi; learning our local stories reminds us these are not just parks for recreation, but were thriving community hubs, green pharmacies and food forests. They were very much contributors to whānau wellbeing.
Have you seen the wonderful restoration work at Otaraua Park funded through the Government’s Jobs for Nature programme? Check it out this week!
Social
Parks offer a place to come together to play, share kai, be active or just sit and talk with friends. Sometimes it’s a case of sharing a smile or a wave that lifts the soul as people go past.