Final concept design has landed

Skatepark specialists Convic have delivered the final concept design for Kilbirnie Park.

The report sums up what the park currently offers, opportunities for improvement long-term and results of community engagement. Sketch designs, 3D visualisations and landscaping ideas bring the park’s future to life.

Convic is working alongside mana whenua to ensure heritage, culture and storytelling is inherent in the design. Local riverstone, sculptural elements, pouwhenua and earthy tones are being explored as part of the park’s cultural overlay.

Next steps will be determined by the outcome of the Council’s Long-term Plan (LTP) amendment process. If the project continues, it will move to a developed design stage where design aspects such as accessibility and traffic mangement will be considered in detail prior to consenting the project. Naming the future park area will also be considered.

In 2023, Isthmus Group was engaged to prepare a masterplan for Kilbirnie Park as directed by the Suburban Reserves Management Plan. This process was also informed by a 2021 council decision to allocate $1.5M from the Charles Plimmer Bequest for open space upgrades and $500K for play space renewal. In 2022, following the results of a Wellington city skate feasibility study, a further $5.64M was allocated to support development of a new skatepark within Kilbirnie Park.

After significant engagement with a diverse range of stakeholders and the community, the masterplan was completed at the end of 2023. It provides a guiding framework for future development of the park over time, subject to funding decisions made by the Council.

The Kilbirnie Park upgrade is one of the capital works projects being reconsidered as part of the Long-term Plan (LTP) amendment. This requires a new draft budget, public consultation and a new LTP in place by 30 June 2025.

More information about the Council’s Long-term Plan process can be found here.

Informed by significant engagement throughout the past year with a diverse range of stakeholders, the Kilbirnie Park Masterplan was completed at the end of 2023. This document sets up the framework for future development of the park, subject to funding decisions made through the Council’s Long-term Plan and Annual Plan processes.

Thank you to everyone who provided feedback on the concept design options for the masterplan. You can read a summary of the community feedback here.

The masterplan provides an aspirational 30+ year vision and framework for the future of Kilbirnie Park.

The short-term priorities outlined in the masterplan to be delivered within existing funding include:

• Delivery of a new skatepark
• Renewal of the community play space
• Loop track around the sportsfields, with informal play opportunities
• Working with mana whenua for opportunities to celebrate Ākau Tangi Pā
• Improving the path network, planting, landscaping and consolidating carparking

The long-term vision of the masterplan is to create a cohesive, vibrant, and accessible community and recreation hub that prioritises safety, embraces diversity, and nurtures play. The plan provides one potential future (and concept design) for the park, but it is intended to be adaptable to future trends, opportunities, and funding decisions.

The survey has now concluded.