A group of motivated, Warkworth locals came together in 2015 with the focus of finding a space to create a bmx/mountain-bike park for the children of the wider Warkworth area community. As part of these initial discussions, it became evident that an improved skate park was also desired by another local group and we decided to work together and form a collective committee that would focus on an integrated Bike and Skate Park, consulting with relevant stakeholders and driving due diligence for the project itself. The options for the Warkworth skateboarding community are currently under-resourced with only a single half-pipe ramp located at the, more often than not, contentious Baxter Street site. The opportunity to expand this area has often been met with stiff resistance, given the high level of amenity that the adjacent site offers through potential alternative uses, along with the perceived nuisance factor of having kids on fast moving skateboards and scooters in a high pedestrian density zone. The local biking community’s nearest purpose-built facilities are the Te Ara Tahuna estuary circuit in Orewa or Auckland-city based (like the Onepoto domain) for flat-to-easy undulating rides designed for new entrant bikers, or Sanders Reserve / Woodhill / Riverhead for off-road riding. It has been clear from both past and current discussions that there is a strong desire to see this type of facility created locally. A critical mass of active parents, most being keen skateboarders, BMXers and mountainbikers themselves, are ready to contribute to fundraising for creation and maintenance of the facilities. The opportunity to look at some space at the Warkworth Showgrounds facility then arose via the Mahurangi Community Sport & Recreation Collective (MCSRC) and was deemed by the group to be an excellent location for the following reasons:
• Availability of currently un-utilised land in close proximity to Warkworth’s town centre
• Ease of access to the site (safe pavement from town and local) and abundance of car parking space. It is already familiar to most people in the community and known as a safe and well-planned facility.
• Suitable topography (some flat for skate park, some rolling for mountainbiking)
• Co-location with existing and compatible facilities – all ages already play sports here, plus there is a great playground drawing the public out there to entertain their children. Yet another sport and facility bringing another group of the public out there may also give good exposure to the other sports being played, encouraging people to give another sport a go.
• Enhancement of the current space – it is already a family sports area so to include another sporting activity suits this location not only logistically but for the natural extension of the sports/fitness concept. It is in keeping with the theme of the overall park as a one-stop sports complex where everyone’s needs are met. This group subsequently presented their concept to the MCSRC, and Auckland Council and Rodney Local Board representatives present at that meeting, and the concept has since been accepted as complementary to the long-term vision of the MCSRC and the overall Showgrounds multi-purpose sport and recreation facility.
