Welcome to Margaret Mahy Family Playground Christchurch “It’s Free”
This Christchurch playground is without doubt a great asset for the garden city, understood to be perhaps the largest in the Southern Hemisphere. Located next to the Christchurch Avon River or "Ōtākaro" and an easy walk from centre of the city.
It is a must to visit if you have children as it has plenty for them to do and a lot of it you can join in with them as well, we are talking serious fun for the kids and they won’t want to leave.
However if you're looking for a rest whilst you look on no worries, it will keep them occupied for ages using up plenty of energy.
It offers digging, bouncing, slides “big slides” physical challenge’s, climbing, flying fox squirting and a small water park great for the toddlers, one slide is wide enough for a family to race down together make sure have plenty of time though.
It’s big and bold with splashes of colour and there are food carts to keep you all going or use the BBQ’s provided.
Being a central location is a bonus as it helps in a small way to bring the city to life and adds something special to the area, especially for those staying or living in apartments close by.
It’s located not far from the famous New Regent Street and the picture swings just across the road.
Named after Margaret Mahy, ONZ who passed on the 23 July 2012 and was a well-known New Zealand author of children's and young adult books. Mahy won the Carnegie Medal twice and was recognised as runner up a third time.
This playground is well used and loved by families it did come under some criticism after being completed though.
Although the crown resources were behind the design it failed to cater well for children with physical disabilities and no thought was given to shade, “some changes were made to try and address these issues later on”.
It also came under fire for the cost when the Christchurch press published a break down on the park and it showed the total project cost had exceeded $40m. With $19.6m for land purchase, NZ$1.3m for demolition of buildings, and $20m for land development, including NZ $3m for the playground itself. Since this information had been published some people have suggested it may have been more than the $40m to complete.
All this aside it is a fantastic park for the family to enjoy.
