Canterbury Street Reserve Playspace Renewal

Canterbury Street Reserve Playspace, located at 45 Canterbury Street in Ashley, is the village’s only reserve and has long been a popular spot for local whānau. With ageing equipment, it’s now due for an upgrade to keep it safe and enjoyable. Current features include a basketball hoop, swings, a flying fox, and a picnic table. Funding for improvements has been set aside in the Council’s Long Term Plan. In July, we asked what the community would like to see happen for the upgrade of the reserve. Residents shared that the space is mainly used by younger children and expressed interest in more play equipment, better layout, and improved assets like seating.

What we’re proposing

Canterbury Street Reserve is a small space, and many of you told us that the reserve is not laid out well. Our proposed design makes the most of theavailable space while also leaving as much of the grass area as possible.

We propose retaining all existing trees to provide shade for the playspace, and moving the picnic table and basketball hoop to better locations. Additional facilities such as seating, and a rubbish bin, have also been included. The hard space beneath the basketball hoop would be made larger, and the space can support multi use for small bikes and line marked games.

The proposed playspace design is based on providing more play opportunities for all age groups. The design includes a climbing frame with a slide, and a 3 bay swing set with seats for all age groups including a basket swing.

A nature playspace is proposed for the northern end of the playspace which would include an informal trail through natural materials to play on and explore such as logs, rocks, stones and planting.

To ensure the playspace can be accessed year round, a 1.8m-wide asphalt footpath is proposed along the length of the reserve. The pathway could also be used as an informal bike track for younger children learning to ride.

Unfortunately skateboard, scooter and pump track facilities are not achievable within the project budget, however the proposed hard space provides an opportunity for potential development in the future. Similarly, feedback also suggested that the community would like to see a Hamster Wheel in the playspace. This play item isn’t achievable within the project budget however the design provides a location for a potential Hamster Wheel in the future.

Tell us what you think

We’re inviting residents and park users to share their thoughts on:

• The proposed design
• Anything that we have missed.

Have your say using this feedback form below before: 5pm, Wednesday 15 October 2025.

Your feedback will help shape the final proposal. A summary of consultation results will be presented to the Rangiora Ashley Community Board for decision.

This information relates to the initial consultation on the Canterbury Street Reserve Playspace. We are now consulting on the proposed concept design.

Canterbury Street Reserve Playspace is located at 45 Canterbury Street in Ashley and is the only reserve in Ashley Village. The play equipment in the reserve has been enjoyed by many over the years, and it is now time for a refresh to keep the area safe and fun for local whānau (families).

Location of the reserve in Ashley

At the moment, the reserve includes a basketball hoop with a small concrete pad, a set of swings with one belt swing and one bucket swing, a small flying fox and a picnic table. We have budget allocated from the Council Long Term Plan for the renewal of this playspace.

Canterbury Street Reserve

Collecting ideas

What happens next?

Once we’ve heard your ideas and gathered the feedback, we’ll use these to shape an initial concept plan for the reserve. We are looking forward to sharing this plan with you and continuing the conversation through another round of community input.

Tell us what you think

As we begin planning for the renewal of this playspace at the reserve, we want to better understand how the space is currently used, what you think of the existing play equipment and what types of play are most enjoyed by you and your whānau that could be included the concept plan. We’re also keen to hear your ideas about other amenities that could enhance the reserve, and to gather insights into what makes the Ashley community unique and special.

Have your say by providing your feedback before 5 pm, Wednesday 6 August 2025.