A new pop-up park in Gate Pā is helping to bring the community together again after a long spell in the Covid-19 wilderness.

The section at 899 Cameron Road is a fully-fenced park with a lawn and picnic tables, as well as a temporary gym operating out of a shipping container.

The fencing and tables were built by constructon students from Employ NZ working towards an NCEA qualification, and a mural was painted by members of the community.

The park is a collaboration between housing provider Accessible Properties which owns the land, and Tauranga City Council, which has contributed $34,000 on top of a Lottery Community grant. It is also supported by Good Neighbour and neighbhouring Gate Pā School.

Accessible Properties plans to build a mixed housing development on the site in a few years' time and wants to suppport the community by making the land a real asset and a place to belong and thrive, even while its vacant, says general manager Vicki McLaren.

'While our core business is providing affordable and healthy homes for the community, it is vital to us that we support broader community wellbeing aspirations and enable opportunities for increasing and improving quality of life.”

Tauranga City Council also has a role to play in enabling the community to achieve a sense of belonging, connection, and wellbeing, says community development and emergency management manager Paula Naude.

'Covid-19 left a lot of people in our communities feeling socially isolated. The flow-on effect of that has been long-term health and education impacts, new ways of working, and the rising costs of living.

"Part of our role is to support community wellbeing by creating an inclusive city that promotes social connections and removes barriers to participation.”

The park was launched recently with a blessing by local kaumātua Puhirake Ihaka and a community hāngī. Matariki provided another opportunity to celebrate with free activities and kai for whānau.

Hā Ora Fitness trainers Roha Dalton-Reedy and Tamati Robens are currently offering free one-hour fitness sessions at the park on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays from 7am-8am. No booking is required.

Accessible Properties' community engagement lead Georgina Willers is keen to hear from anyone with ideas and suggestions about how the park can be used more.

'We've turned this space into something for the community to be proud of and we want as many people as possible to be able to access it and use it.”

Accessible Properties and Tauranga City Council are also part of a group organising community events at nearby Anzac Park.

A Halloween community barbecue is planned for Sunday, October 30, from 12pm-3pm with fun activities for all ages.

To book an activity or event at 899 Cameron Road, contact Georgina Willers, email georgina.willers@accessibleproperties.co.nz

If you're keen to join the fitness sessions check out @haaorafitness on Facebook or haaora_fitness on Instagram.

To learn more about the work Tauranga City Council's Community Development team does in the community read the latest Outcomes Report.