David Lange Park is giving people more reasons to spend time there, with a growing mix of sport, fitness, play and social spaces.
Over the past 11 months, the local board has added:
- an international-standard sand-based beach volleyball court
- a large outdoor fitness area and a youth chill-out zone
- new play equipment including a giant seesaw and swings.
Māngere-Ōtāhuhu Local Board chair Kaea Walter Inoke-Togiamua says the investment is about making the most of this important community space as Māngere grows.
“We’ve got a good piece of open space here, close to Māngere Town Centre and within easy reach of Māngere Mountain, Māngere Bridge and Ambury Regional Park, and we want to make sure the community gets the most out of it,” he says.
"That means looking at what’s missing and adding spaces that people will actually use.
“We’ve seen that with the amazing destination playground and now with all these recent additions. The work ahead will keep building on that.”
The volleyball court was the first of the new additions, and has quickly become a popular spot for locals and the local board has received great feedback about it.
Next came the fitness area, with pull-up and swing bars, monkey bars, ladders and other equipment like stationary bikes, all set in a wide-open space.
It has been a hit with the community, from seniors and rangatahi to regular groups like Pain Party NZ, a calisthenics group which makes use of places like David Lange Park to train together.
Following that came the large swing and giant seesaw, which are being enjoyed kids and adults alike.
The latest addition is the youth chill-out zone, with colosseum-style seating, shade and creative swings. The open space can also be used for performances, activities and community groups.
The destination playground opened in November 2023. Mana whenua, Te Ākitai Waiohua played an important role in shaping the cultural story of the space, gifting the narrative of Te Riri o Mataaoho – the wrath of Mataaoho, guardian of earthquakes and volcanoes.
Variety, the Children’s Charity, also partnered with the local board from the early stages of the project.
At its heart is Mataaoho, the impressive play tower packed with slides, climbing features, swings, trampolines, a double flying fox and more. There’s something for everyone, from sensory and imaginative play areas to a junior zone, play village, agility trail and accessible equipment.
Easy-to-use paths connect the play and picnic areas, with shade, drinking fountains, wheelchair-friendly tables and accessible toilets. The wider upgrade also includes refreshed basketball and skate areas, plus an upgraded toilet block.
And there’s more to come
Further upgrades planned for the park include a pump track, flexible open space and practice fields, a bicycle circuit, shared paths, and improved connections and entrances.
The carpark plan has also been agreed, with 98 new spaces planned across two stages – 48 by the netball courts and 50 by the main park entrance. Work is on track to start in the coming months.
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