A summer of fun is on the way for everyone visiting Pacific Park in Mount Maunganui, with a new playground and park improvements expected to be ready for play in December.

The new playground, which is currently under construction, will feature opportunities for adventure for all abilities, including an accessible see-saw and carousel, sandpit, basket swings, climbing nets, an accessible safety surface throughout, and shade sails.

Park upgrades will include new paths linking Matavai Street with Bedford Place, a drinking fountain and improved seating.

Tauranga City Council principal parks advisor Jason Cooper says the old playground had reached the end of its life and was due for replacement.

'As part of our work on our parks and playgrounds, one of our priorities is to ensure they cater for a wide range of abilities – meeting the needs of the children who play there, and their caregivers.

'At Pacific Park, the new wheelchair accessible see-saw and carousel will feature anti-slip surfaces and are designed for easy access. The accessible safety surface will be a mixture of rubber and artificial turf ensuring easy access to all playground features while meeting safety requirements.”

The park upgrade is part of a bigger plan to create an accessible Tauranga for everyone.

Tauranga City Council principal strategic advisor Nick Chester says the council is developing an Action and Investment Plan to build on the work that's already being done to break down the barriers that exclude people and can leave them feeling they don't belong.

'Tauranga has an ageing population and a growing number of people living with a disability and we want everyone to have the opportunity to lead a full and happy life.

'We're already doing a lot of work on creating an accessible city, but what else is missing? What are the gaps? How do we ensure maximising accessibility becomes part of everybody's everyday thinking?”

To share your thoughts and ideas about making Tauranga more accessible for everyone, take the action and investment plan survey at www.tauranga.govt.nz/actionplan.

If you have any questions or would like to know more about the Pacific Park upgrade project, please email parks.proiects@tauranga.govt.nz or phone 07 577 7000.