Reserve Development Plan ‘Move’ Zone

1. Shirley Community Reserve | Community Needs
– Lack of activities for Youth after school, on weekends & during school holidays.
– There are limited opportunities for Youth/Adult/Older Adults to be ‘active’ outdoors (apart from walking/biking), unless they are able to participate in sports.
Work hours, financial constraints & mobility issues can exclude some residents.
– We have a growing aging population. Opportunities to increase strength & mobility are limited to at home exercises or attending a gym.
– Many people with sensory sensitivities find most gym environments overwhelming.

1.1. ReVision Youth Friendly Spaces | 10 Shirley Road
In the ReVision Youth Audit for 10 Shirley Road, youth audtiors commented on the “underutilisation of the space”.
Re Safety: “This could be achieved by adding more seating to attract more users and introducing more activities.”
Re Accessibility: “wheelchair-friendly activities should be introduced to the space.”
Re Youth-Friendly: “the space screams out ‘toddler’ more than youth.”
https://www.10shirleyroad.org.nz/youth-audit-10-shirley-road/

1.2. ‘Designing the Third Spaces Teens Need’
“Across the country, schools are restricting student cellphone use as parents, school officials, and lawmakers worry about the devices’ negative impacts on learning, mental health, and real-world relationships.
But by reducing technology use without investing in compelling alternatives, particularly third spaces, they’re treating a symptom, not the problem…
The good news is our civic infrastructure can be intentionally designed and operated to provide real-world connection to peers, places for enjoyable physical movement, which research shows help buffer against mental health challenges.
If phones deliver dopamine, autonomy, and easy social connection, public space needs to deliver those same three things, while becoming a place where teens can build a sense of belonging and identity that give those daily habits meaning…
Open, accessible environments avoid the ‘children only’ cues that push teens away, while natural materials and a muted palette replace the primary-color plastic aimed squarely at kids…
Park playgrounds are designed to appeal to small children, even though more than half of playground users are teens and adults.”
https://www.planning.org/planning/2026/sep/beyond-the-ban-designing-the-third-spaces-teens-need/

2. Shirley Community Reserve | CCC Draft Plan
Consultation Document:
Shirley Community Reserve Development Plan – Draft Plan
https://letstalk.ccc.govt.nz/download_file/9954/3472

3. CCC Draft Plan | Proposed Design Feedback
– The ‘Pump Track/Skate Area/Adventure Play’ areas cater towards primary school aged children, who already have access to their school playgrounds.
– Limited opportunities for Youth/Adults/Older Adults to engage in activities at the Reserve.
– No new activities for Youth have been included in the CCC Draft Plan.
– Basketball Court & Pump Track have increased in size, yet are rarely used.
– Table Tennis Table is included in the CCC Draft Plan, yet it is not used.

4. ‘Shirley Centre’ Plan | ‘Move’ Zone (Youth, Adults, Older Adults)
– In 2024, the Waipapa Papanui-Innes-Central Community Board’s vision was for the Shirley Community Reserve to become:
“a safe place that enhances well-being & a place for social connection”.
https://letstalk.ccc.govt.nz/waipapa-papanui-innes-central-community-board/agreed-vision-shirley-community-reserve
– Currently the Reserve is underutilized. More people using the Reserve, attracts more people to this location, as the space is now seen as “a safe place”.
– By creating a new ‘Play’ Zone to attract families with young children, we need to create a new space to complement this Zone, to attract Youth/Adults/Older Adults.
– ‘Move’ Zone: Inclusive Accessible Intergenerational Outdoor Fitness Space for exercise, Vitamin D & fresh air.
– ‘Wheelchair-friendly activities’ in an accessible location, with adjacent car park.
– ‘Open Green Space’ location, may be less overwhelming for people with sensory sensitivities, who avoid gym environments.
– Opportunities to incorporate fitness/stretching/strength & mobility training into daily life: waiting for your bus to arrive, after drop off or while waiting for pick up at school/playcentre & on your way home after work.
– Safe space (visibility from streets), flat footpaths & open green space for users to create their own workout routine.
– Mentoring opportunities between Youth & Adults/Older Adults in the community.
– Local sports organisations can created new programs to engage with Youth at the Reserve.
– Equipment to complement potential fitness & mobility activities provided in the new ‘Community Centre’ building.

Shirley Community Reserve | ‘Shirley Centre’ Plan | ‘Move’ Zone (E.6.)

– Larger Blue Area: In South Korea free outdoor fitness equipment features in virtually all public parks. Open 24/7 & no membership.
Used by Youth/Adults/Older Adults for daily health maintenance & social gathering.
Equipment for low-impact stretching & mobility, plus bars for calisthenics & functional movement training.
Opportunities for circuit training/cardio along Reserve & Dudley paths/Chancellor St.
– Light Blue Area: Basketball/Netball Combo, with different goal at each end, colour coded layout markings.
Youth/Adults use the current half basketball court for shooting practice & to destress.

5. ‘Shirley Centre’ Plan | ‘Move’ Zone: Equipment Suggestions
– The below Equipment Suggestions are based on: the specific needs for each age group (Youth/Adults/Older Adults), to cater for different muscle groups & for the mobility of each user.
– Providing a variety of equipment allows many different ability users, to utilise this Zone at the same time.
– KOMPAN equipment has signage showing exercises related to each piece of equipment. This encourages ‘fitness equipment newbies’ to engage in this Zone.
– Supported by the free KOMPAN Fitness App, which acts as your personal trainer, offering guidance and measuring performance.

– 5.1. Cross Training Pro Combi 3