New Youth Facility coming to Halswell

Christchurch City Council have budgeted money in the Long Term Plan to provide a skate park/ youth facility in Halswell and they will be kicking off some consultation around this sometime in early 2016.

The Halswell Residents' Association has long been working to get a new youth facility in Halswell.  A youth hui run by the Halswell Community Project in July 2014 also highlighted a need for youth facilities, and local youth workers have talked about the need for places where older children can meet and hang out safely and have fun.  While Halswell has great organised sports and youth clubs, there is not so much available for young people to just get together with friends casually.  The need is only likely to increase as Halswell grows and many more young people move into and grow up in the area.  

Prebbleton Skate Park

The recreation team have begun thinking about possible suitable sites which takes a bit of doing.  A site for skate boarding/ scootering etc needs:

·         To have plenty of space around it (so that nearby houses are not disturbed by noise), 

·         To be close to a bus service,

·         To be fairly central in Halswell so that young people can get to it, 

·         To good sight lines and people nearby who can see in, for safety,

·         Access to toilets.  

The plan it to look at sites across the area and to narrow down the options based on these criteria and then coming out to talk to residents about the options.

The nearest skate park to Halswell is in Prebbleton in Stationmasters Way.  Residents there were not too sure if they wanted this facility, but are pleased with it now.  Children and young people of all ages are using the area very well.

Watch out for more information in our newsletter, and look out for CCC staff who will be in places around Halswell (maybe at the Library, the Markets, in local schools, or round the shops or supermarket) to talk about this facility and listen to your ideas and perspectives.