Citycare Property’s project team has proudly delivered a full redesign and redevelopment of Avon Park on behalf of the Christchurch City Council, transforming it into a vibrant destination along the Ōtākaro Avon River Corridor.
Working alongside landscape architects Isthmus and specialist playground designers, our Structures and Landscapes self-delivery team carried out the construction, while our open space team completed the planting. The project reached a milestone on 17 May 2026 with a community-organised family day to celebrate the park’s completion.
Avon Park Landscape Design by Isthmus
A Park Built on Sustainability and Kaitiakitanga
In 2024 when Citycare Property was awarded the project, the brief for the park’s redevelopment is to reflect a commitment to sustainability, circular design, and responsible kaitiakitanga.
Avon Park now features thoughtful use of repurposed timber and native planting including:
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Re-used Ironbark timber from the old Timaru Wharf forms the park’s 65‑metre-long, 4‑metre-wide boardwalk.
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Logs from the Lyttelton Wharf stockpile and timber from necessary tree removals were repurposed throughout the site.
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Reclaimed timber also features in the kai area and the distinctive feature fencing within the playground.
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By the end of the planting season, around 50,000 native plants will bring new life to the landscape.
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To support hands-on learning for students at nearby Whitau School, the design incorporates foraging plants such as herbs, blueberries, rhubarb, apple and lemon trees.
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A Regenerated Destination on the City to Sea Pathway
Located within the Ōtākaro Avon River Corridor, the renewed Avon Park is a key stop along Christchurch’s 11km shared-use City to Sea Pathway. The regeneration enhances both ecological value and community enjoyment, creating a welcoming space for tamariki to play, for whānau to gather, and for everyone to connect with nature.
We’re excited to watch the landscape mature as the new plantings take hold and the park becomes even more vibrant over time. The park will continue to grow, flourish, and support biodiversity for generations.
What the Project Delivered
Since April 2024, Citycare Property has delivered a wide range of improvements, including:
- New 330m section of stopbank
- 4m-wide, 65m-long hardwood timber boardwalk
- 1,400sqm play area with a large swing structure
- Removal of Avonside Drive within the project footprint
- New paved car park
- New basketball court featuring artwork surfacing
- BBQ area for community gatherings
- Soccer field
- Kai area with raised gardens
- 4 metre City to Sea path with Teddington grit connections
- Significant earthworks to create a wetland habitat
- Approximately 50,000 new plants by the end of the planting season