City's second new youth space grand opening this weekend at Western Heights

Western Heights is next in line for a community celebration for the grand opening of the new Park Road Reserve youth space on Saturday [18 February].

The new youth space has skateboarding facilities, including joined mini ramps, a spine feature, and large 6-stair drop with handrail, as well as two basketball half-courts, a netball court, and fields.

Rotorua District Council is looking to repeat the success of last weekend’s [11 February] Fordlands’ youth space official opening where hundreds of locals joined in the celebrations.

RDC youth projects officer Jill Campbell says the Western Heights grand opening promises to be as fun-filled and entertaining as last week’s event to celebrate the hard work undertaken by the council team and local youth, enabling the dream of having a modern skate park in the area to become a reality.

“There’ll be all kinds of fun activities for families to enjoy including professional skateboarding demonstrations, free sausage sizzle, face painting, rippa rugby, volleyball, ki-o-rahi, basketball, mural painting, and food stalls.”

The Western Heights youth space grand opening is on Saturday 18 February from 11am to 3pm.

Rotorua District Council’s Youth Spaces project is a result of submissions made to the council’s last draft Ten Year Plan by young people from Fordlands, Koutu and Western Heights. The submissions pointed out the lack of activities for young people in those communities.

To enter a rippa rugby, volleyball, ki-o-rahi or basketball team at the event contact Raki Wiringi at Te Waiariki Purea Trust on 348 5051.