Avon Park Playground

A contemporary nature play experience

Located within Christchurch’s Ōtākaro Avon River Corridor, the historic Avon Park has undergone a transformative regeneration – ready to become a key destination on the city’s 11km shared-use City to Sea Pathway.

Reflecting Christchurch City Council’s ambition to become the “Capital of Urban Play,” the park has been reimagined as a dynamic, inclusive space that blends natural beauty with meaningful community connection. The result is a contemporary nature play experience that invites people of all ages to move, explore and interact with the unique riverbank environment.

Designed for place, people, and purpose

Informed by community consultation led by Christchurch City Council — including input from Ōtautahi Community Housing Trust and Kāinga Ora residents — the park and playspace design was shaped by Isthmus with a clear intent: “to use play as a means to link community, visitors and environment”.

Playground Centre worked closely with Isthmus to help bring this vision to life, supplying and customising play equipment that complements the area’s ecological setting, and aligns with the community’s needs now and into the future.

A thoughtful layout and flow encourage exploration, gently guides visitors through the playspace, offering moments of discovery and connection.  

Nature‑inspired forms and colours echo the surrounding environment:

• Grass (exclusive to Playground Centre in New Zealand) – These cattail‑shaped poles mirror riverbank grasses and are dotted throughout the playspace for park-goers to climb, swing and spin on.
• 6m Taranaki climbing tower brings a sense of scale and wonder to the play space as this net-climbing structure invites children to scramble, balance, and ascend through a web of climbing challenges. At the summit, they’re rewarded with a sense of achievement and sweeping views immersing them in a true nature-play experience.
• Custom Morere Swing – A bespoke swing that celebrates local heritage. A swing that had been set up by a river, consisted of a tall pole to allow people to swing out and drop into the water. This swing replicates this history.

Innovative & inclusive elements ensure that no matter their age or ability, everyone can join the fun:

• Inclusive Carousel Cyclone – A low wheelchair‑accessible spinner that provides engaging fun for children of all abilities.
• Flying Saucer – Wobbly Wood Double Frame – Features a basket swing alongside toddler swings with straps.

Sustainably made and locally crafted, the equipment from our Wobbly Wood range blends beautifully with the nature play theme – not just in appearance, but in ethos.

Together, these features make Avon Park not just another stop along the City to Sea pathway but a destination in its own right. A place where Christchurch residents and visitors can gather, play and connect.