Margaret Mahy Playground

File:Margaret Mahy Playground 091 (cropped).jpg

The Margaret Mahy Playground – Tākaro ā Poi{{Cite web |title=A special place to play |url=https://matapopore.co.nz/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/1124_CRCL_MP_Ta%CC%84karo_a%CC%84_Poi.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230131121257/https://matapopore.co.nz/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/1124_CRCL_MP_Ta%CC%84karo_a%CC%84_Poi.pdf |archive-date=31 January 2023}} is a playground in the Christchurch Central City on the banks of the Avon River.

Following the 2011 Christchurch earthquake, the government's Recovery Plan had a "city-wide family playground" as one of the elements of the East Frame.{{cite book |title=Christchurch Central Recovery Plan : Te Mahere 'Maraka Ōtautahi' |date=July 2012 |publisher=Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Authority |location=Christchurch |isbn=978-0-478-39718-5 |page=35 |url=https://ccdu.govt.nz/sites/default/files/documents/christchurch-central-recovery-plan-march-2014-spreads-version.pdf |accessdate=23 December 2015}} The playground opened on 22 December 2015, and it is the largest playground in the Southern Hemisphere.{{cite news |last1=Stylianou |first1=Giorgina |title=Multimillion-dollar Margaret Mahy playground open for fun in Christchurch |url=http://www.stuff.co.nz/the-press/business/the-rebuild/75357812/multimillion-dollar-margaret-mahy-playground-open-for-fun-in-christchurch |accessdate=22 December 2015 |work=The Press |date=22 December 2015}} A week prior to the opening, the Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Authority (CERA) issued a press release reporting that the playground had cost NZ$3m to build,{{cite press release |last=Ombler |first=John |authorlink=John Ombler |date=16 December 2015 |title=Margaret Mahy Family Playground Opening 22 December 2015 |location=Christchurch |publisher=CERA |url=http://www.rebuildchristchurch.co.nz/blog/2015/12/margaret-mahy-family-playground-opening-22-december-2015 |access-date=6 February 2017}} and the local newspaper, The Press, reported this with the headline "$3m playground ready to open".{{cite news |title=$3m playground ready to open |url= http://www.stuff.co.nz/the-press/news/75168947/Christchurchs-Margaret-Mahy-Family-Playground-opens-Tuesday |accessdate=6 February 2017 |work=The Press |date=17 December 2015 |page=A3}} But within days, it became clear that the amount publicised by CERA was only a part of the cost; The Press reported that the total project cost exceeded NZ$40m, with NZ$19.6m for land purchase, NZ$1.3m for demolition of buildings, and NZ$20m for land development, including NZ$3m for the playground itself.{{cite news |title=How much did Christchurch's Margaret Mahy playground cost? |url= http://www.stuff.co.nz/the-press/business/the-rebuild/75472074/How-much-did-Christchurchs-Margaret-Mahy-playground-cost |accessdate=6 February 2017 |work=The Press |date=27 December 2015}}

The concept for the playground is based on deliberate but managed risk, with the project manager stating: "We accept more risk now in our playgrounds than we had 20 years ago."{{cite news|last1=Napier|first1=Abby|title=New equipment on the way for Margaret Mahy Playground|url=http://www.stuff.co.nz/the-press/christchurch-life/78622101/New-equipment-on-the-way-for-Margaret-Mahy-Playground|accessdate=11 July 2016|work=The Press|date=7 April 2016}} Having mostly received an enthusiastic response from the public, there was criticism that such an expensive playground did not cater better for children with physical disabilities.{{cite news |last1=Spink |first1=Emily |title=Playground 'misses mark' |url=http://www.stuff.co.nz/the-press/business/the-rebuild/75817624/margaret-mahy-misses-the-mark-for-children-with-special-needs--advocate |accessdate=17 January 2016 |work=The Press |date=13 January 2016 |page=A2}} The playground is named for Margaret Mahy, New Zealand's famous children's author.{{cite news |title=$3m playground ready to open |url=http://www.stuff.co.nz/the-press/news/75168947/Christchurchs-Margaret-Mahy-Family-Playground-opens-Tuesday |accessdate=22 December 2015 |work=The Press |date=17 December 2015 | page=A3}} After it was reported in January 2016 that the slide got so hot during sunny summer days that it blistered fingers, shade sails were installed.{{cite news |last1=Stylianou|first1=Georgina|title=Child's fingers burn on playground's hot slide |url= http://www.stuff.co.nz/the-press/business/the-rebuild/76245407/Child-burns-fingers-on-hot-slide-at-Margaret-Mahy-Playground |accessdate=6 February 2017|work=The Press|date=26 January 2016|page=A3}} In April 2016, it was reported that additional adventure equipment for the playground had been ordered: climbing towers and "curly whirly slides". An {{convert|8|m}} spiral slide from one of the towers opened on 26 June and The Press reported "screams of terror and excitement".{{cite news |last1=Flynn |first1=Leah |title=Tower of terror opens at Christchurch's Margaret Mahy Family Playground |url=http://www.stuff.co.nz/the-press/news/81468238/tower-of-terror-opens-at-christchurchs-margaret-mahy-family-playground |accessdate=11 July 2016 |work=The Press |date=26 June 2016}} Two weeks later, the towers and the slide were closed again "over safety concerns".{{cite news |last1=Flynn |first1=Leah |title=Tower of terror at Christchurch's Margaret Mahy Family Playground closed |url=http://www.stuff.co.nz/the-press/news/81956274/tower-or-terror-at-christchurchs-margaret-mahy-family-playground-closed |accessdate=11 July 2016 |work=The Press |date=10 July 2016}}

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The land incorporates the previous Elsie Locke Park, which was named after the famous activist in 1997 and was Christchurch's only park named after a resident during their lifetime.{{cite news |title=Elsie Locke park future uncertain |url=http://www.stuff.co.nz/the-press/videos/9185628/Elsie-Locke-park-future-uncertain |accessdate=22 December 2015 |work=The Press |date=20 September 2013}}{{cite journal |last=Horton |first=Murray |date=June 2001 |title=Obituary: Elsie Locke |journal=Peace Researcher |volume=23 |location=Christchurch, New Zealand |publisher=New Zealand Nuclear Free Zone Committee |issn=1173-2679 |oclc=173343104 |accessdate=5 August 2012 |url=http://www.converge.org.nz/abc/elsobit.htm}}

References

Category:Christchurch Central City

Category:Playgrounds

Category:Monuments and memorials to women

Category:2011 Christchurch earthquake