Delivered for the Christchurch City Council (CCC), the new Queen Elizabeth II (QEII) Park community play space has become a vibrant, inclusive amenity that celebrates the site’s rich history while creating a place for families to gather, play and connect.
Citycare Property’s project team is honoured to have delivered this work. Working alongside CCC, our in-house trades teams and playground design specialists brought this project to completion - from collaborating on the final design, refining the scope to suit the brief and budget, to delivering the work within agreed timeframes.
Located in North New Brighton, QEII Park has long been associated with recreation and leisure. The park’s legacy stretches back to 1974 when it was developed as a major sporting venue for the 1974 Commonwealth Games. This new play space adds another chapter to that story, creating a welcoming, contemporary destination that responds to the park’s evolving role in the community.
Project highlights
The new play space has been designed to support a wide range of ages, abilities and play styles, with a strong focus on accessibility, intergenerational use and community connection. Key features include:
- Wet pour rubber play areas featuring a mound with climbing grips, climbing rope and slide, plus a carousel, additional slide and junior swings
- Intergenerational games including a labyrinth, Connect 4 and other play elements that encourage children, parents and caregivers to interact together
- A soft fall mulch playground area with swings, a 3m-tall rolling hill climbing structure, balancing logs, steppers and a nature play balance bridge
- Bike and scooter stands to support active travel to the park
- A sandpit with a digger and buried fossils, including wet pour access and a Kwila play table designed for wheelchair users
- Picnic tables, including two with built-in games, to support longer stays and family use
- A multi-use running and scooter track, basketball court, adult swing set and terraced Kwila seating
- Five shade umbrellas, planted garden areas, viewing mounds and raised grassed areas that add comfort and visual interest across the site
Design and delivery
The project was designed in collaboration with local business Xteriorscapes, who helped develop and price the concept. From there, our team worked through the design in detail, refining the layout, materials and play outcomes so the project remained aligned with both the budget and the brief, while still delivering a high-quality public amenity.
Delivery drew on the strength of our in-house capability. Our site works crew, playground installation team, specialist carpentry team and concrete crew all played a role in shaping the finished space.
Inclusive, accessible and built for community use
The play space was developed to support all ages, from early childhood through to older children, while also recognising the important role adults play. The inclusion of intergenerational games, accessible play elements, wheelchair-friendly pathways and inclusive seating ensures more people can use and enjoy the space together.
Natural play features made from re-used timber add texture and variety to the experience, while viewing mounds, grassed raised areas and planted gardens soften the site and help it sit comfortably within the wider park landscape. The design also considered safety and visibility with Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED) principles applied, alongside compliance with NZS 5828:2015 playground and surfacing standards.
Inspired by place and history
The site’s Commonwealth-inspired colour palette acknowledges QEII Park’s connection to the 1974 Commonwealth Games and inspired the colour theme used, and reinforces the identity of a place that has long been part of Christchurch’s sporting and community life.
The project also responds to the cultural significance of the wider area. QEII Park sits within the takiwā of Te Ngāi Tūāhuriri Rūnanga, whose connection to nearby Ōruapaeroa, Ōtākaro and Te Ihutai forms an important part of the site’s broader context. Recognising this heritage was an important consideration in the design and material approach.
Today, QEII is a busy and well-used part of the city, and this project adds a fantastic new amenity for families in the area. By combining active play, social spaces and accessible elements, the development supports the park’s role as a destination for everyday recreation and community connection.
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |