Thu, Jun 17, 2021 11:30 AM

Council votes for new Stoke Youth Park designs

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Molly Swift

Nelson City Council has unanimously voted to approve designs for a new skate park in Stoke.

The park will be built on the car park for the Stoke Memorial Hall next to Whanake Youth Centre and is expected to have, among other amenities, a skatepark, basketball court and container stage.

The project has a $610,000 budget that will cover these amenities, however, council is looking for external funding for other features to improve the facility.

These features include shade sails, a barbeque, catenary lighting, poles with creative lights, a deck extension, additional seats, an improved pathway emphasising the War Memorial Gates and art features.

Council received the designs at a community and recreation committee hearing on Thursday.

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The council’s website says the park has been designed by Kūmānu Environmental and has consulted with young people from Whanake Youth, Nelson City Youth Council, and schools to develop the project.

Whanake Youth manager, Lee-ann O’Brien, says that the youth centre has been involved from the beginning in the project. She says that the council have been proactive and it has been a great process of collaborating and listening to young people.

With the growing population of rangatahi in Stoke, she says the youth park is “needed and wanted”.

A similar project cancelled by the council in 2011 due to concerns over safety in the community.

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Lee-ann says the young people of Stoke are super excited and cannot wait for the facility, especially for the new skate park and basketball courts.

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