Manukau's Urban Issues: Manukau Youth get an Awesome Skate Park

Manukau has a youthful population compared to other areas of greater Auckland. The youthful element of the city is regularly acknowledged when developing new parks. Barry Curtis Park namely after our long serving mayor Sir Barry Curtis has clearly taken providing for youth to another level. Barry Curtis Park is primarily linked to serving the new flat bush developing, however all Manukau residents are using its facilities.

Source: Layco, 2011 Personal Photos
Skate Park is popular

Source: Layco, 2011 Personal Photos
Skate Park is a social meeting

Source: Layco, 2011 Personal Photos
Wider view of skate park

The focal youth facility of Barry Curtis Park is the dynamic skate park with many twist and turns. It’s well designed and from the usage I’ve observed its well liked by the people using.

Source: Layco, 2011 Personal Photos
Different elements that people can use to do tricks on.

The skate park’s drainage of water is creatively hidden and shaped into the park to be an obstacle that many of the skaters & bikers use to do tricks.

Source: Layco, 2011 Personal Photos
Hidden among the boulders is a drainage system and the metal cage is protecting the main drain

Source: Layco, 2011 Personal Photos
Drainage hidden in a creative way and used as another element at the skate park

The colourful building below is two-storey, above a commentator box/ judges area and below are bathrooms. This facility means that the skate park has the ability to host competitions and help young skaters/BMX sports people gain experience in their own backyard.

Source: Layco, 2011 Personal Photos

Barry Curtis Park also provides for BXM and Mountain bikers with the man-made hills that are regularly used to train on or accomplish tricks.

Source: Layco, 2011 Personal Photos
Hill that is regularly used by bikers

The park also provides great people-watching opportunities as its surrounded by lively areas and activities. Imagine the array of uses and people coming to the park when it has been fully completed. I think Barry Curtis Park will have it all the views, the activity facilities and leisure factor. Most importantly, it reflects the vision Manukau City Council had for the Park which is “park that reflects the people and cultures of Manukau.”