Katikati Youth Park Project Hits $100k Fundraising Milestone
Plans to transform the Moore Park skatepark on Fairview Rd into a larger, family-friendly Youth Park have taken a significant step forward, with two key milestones reached late in 2025. Western Bay of Plenty District Council (WBOPDC) signed a Deed of Agreement with the Katikati Community-Led Development (KCLD) Steering Group to develop the new facility alongside the existing skatepark, and fundraising passed the $100,000 mark — two-thirds of the $150,000 needed to complete the first stage. Funding has come from organisations including TECT, Powerco, Hume Growers, the Department of Internal Affairs, WBOPDC via a community board grant, and local service clubs such as Rotary.
KCLD spokesman John Bothwell said the signing of the Deed of Agreement marked the start of a more public phase of the project, opening the door to broader funding support from businesses and families. The project was shaped by extensive consultation with a youth leadership group, including two full-day workshops, to ensure the space delivered what rangatahi actually wanted. The first stage of construction will focus on family-friendly areas including a covered BBQ space, picnic tables, extra seating, a half-court basketball area, and sunshade structures over parts of the skate bowl.
A wish list of additional features has been developed, including swings, a flying fox, slides, climbing structures for different age groups, and sensory play elements. The skate bowl will be repainted, new mural boards added, and a dedicated graffiti wall created to give young people a legal space for street art — developed in partnership with Katikati Open Air Art and Tauranga-based mural artist Kalib Wallace. A pump track for skaters, scooters and bikes is also being designed and is expected to become a major drawcard once completed.
The community is invited to get behind the project through sponsorship, with options ranging from $50 for a family through to $5,000 for a larger corporate. Council will provide essential infrastructure including water, power and sewerage connections, and will install a new toilet block to double current on-site capacity. Together with the new Sport and Recreation Centre under construction near the cricket ground, Moore Park is set to become a vibrant recreational hub for Katikati's young people. More information and donation details are available at www.KatikatiCLD.nz.
Originally published in Katikati News (Sun Media).