Community reserves

Council has a role to provide parks and open spaces across the district that provide opportunities for people to get out, get moving or simply get some fresh air and interact with nature.

Council will provide a reserve network across the district, where:

• Most houses in urban areas are within a short walkable distance from a neighbourhood park, which has a basic playground and somewhere to kick a ball around.
• Most houses in urban areas are within a short drive or cycle from a community park. This is a larger play space that supports more activities.
• Community parks should be a hub for informal recreation, with a more substantial playground, hard and soft play surfaces (for example, a field with goals, and a hard court for basketball or tennis) and a larger recreation space with supporting amenities such as toilets and benches. Examples are Besley Park, Brice Street Reserve, and Te Kapua Park.
• Bush areas, waterfront reserves and gullies support open recreation, access to our lakes and waterways, play, leisure, walking, cycling and picnicking.
• Safe spaces are available for dogs to be exercised off-leash.

Community reserves will be managed so they enhance the local environment.

Community reserves will be inclusive and accessible so everyone in our community can get out and enjoy them.

Community reserves will be progressively improved to enhance our shared pathway network and connections.

Local communities will be given the opportunity to participate in:

• Identifying what needs to be improved
• enhancing community reserves.

Weed management will take a long-term holistic approach that prioritises the use of natural processes.