The additional play area adds almost half an acre to the Centre’s existing outdoor space, and has 26 mature trees for tamariki to explore and play on.
Massey Child Care Centre General Manager Alison Angel said that this was an incredible example of collaboration.
“We worked with the university initially to secure the area, and with the help of fundraising and generous donations from our families and wider community we have been able to create a safe, large, green space for our tamariki to learn and explore in.”
The fence for this new area was built by one of the Isles Construction team, who is also one of the Centre’s dads.
“This green space opened on 22 June, and for the first year we plan to leave it as it is to see how the tamariki make use of the space. We surveyed parents to get their thoughts on how they would like the space to be used, and we had some really great suggestions including adding a cycle track and logs for climbing,” Alison says.
“It is also provides an extra space for celebrating events with our whānau such as Matariki.”
Tamariki at the Centre said their favourite things to do in the new green space are climbing the trees and running.
The Centre in Palmerston North has four sections - two infant and toddler spaces and two spaces for young children - and all ages have daily access to the new green space, including the babies.
The area adds to the Centre’s existing four playgrounds and two nature corridors, which are outdoor pathways that weave through native plants and water features. These natural spaces are peaceful, relaxing and green; where tamariki, kaiako and whānau can experience nature and connect to our environment.
Massey Child Care Centre has centres on both the Manawatū and Auckland campuses, serving Massey University and the wider community. The Palmerston North centre has been open since the 1970s and is one of the few not-for-profit community based childcare centres in Manawatū.
