Parks Week returns with program of events across Australasia’s open spaces

March 5, 2020

Looking to again raise awareness on the value of parks and open spaces, and to get people out of their homes and enjoying outdoor activity, Parks Week 2020 is being held from 7th to 15th March across Australia and New Zealand.

This year’s Parks Week will once-again see councils and other park management organisations will be hosting a range events to celebrate the vital role parks play in creating liveable cities and thriving communities.

The organisers of Parks Week, Recreation Aotearoa and Parks and Leisure Australia explain “parks play a vital role in creating liveable cities and thriving communities and not only provide the most frequented spaces for recreational activities but also offer opportunities for tourism and the social interaction that is vital for connected and resilient communities.”

Parks Week is looking to encourage:

• How visiting parks is good for peoples’ physical and mental well-being.
• Healthy parks as an essential ingredient for healthy people.
• Parks’ role in supporting health and well-being, enhancing the ability to cope with and recover from illness and injury and helping to reduce the risk of chronic disease.
• Parks’ role in building stronger and connected communities by providing places where people come together for leisure.
• The environmental benefits parks provide to cities.

Among events being held to mark Parks Week, Whakatane District Council is to offer free activities including belly dancing, Tai Chi and trolley derbies at its public parks.

Looking to highlight how spending time in our parks and open spaces positively influences our wellbeing, the Council has partnered with Sport Gisborne Tairawhiti to hold a Pop-Up Play event at Puawaitanga Park at Ruatoria on 13th March from 3pm.

There will be activities and a free barbeque, alongside the new play equipment that was installed at the park in January.

Rongoa - a Maori medicine eco-sourcing workshop with Whaia Titirangi is also planned. Whaia Titirangi is a holistic partnership between Council and Ngati Oneone to care for the maunga.

The Gisborne Iris Group and Council’s gardening team will also host an iris workshop at the Botanical Gardens at 10.30am on 11th March, sharing knowledge on how to separate and care for irises.

For more information go to www.parks-week.org

23rd January 2020 - Recreation Aotearoa to stage the southern hemisphere’s biggest parks conference in Rotorua

6th January 2020 - Researchers put a value on national parks’ impact on mental health

27th December 2019 - New Zealand’s best parks and outdoor spaces of 2019/20 identified

18th February 2019 - Parks Week aims to raise awareness of value of Australasia’s open spaces

14th February 2019 - NZRA rebrands as Recreation Aotearoa

20th November 2018 - 23 parks and open space areas in New Zealand receive Green Flag Awards

2nd May 2018 - World Parks Week showcases the value of urban green space

23rd February 2018 - Value of green space to be celebrated through Parks Week 2018

4th March 2017 - Port Macquarie offers ‘magical’ challenges through Parks Week

27th February 2017 - Hamilton launches competitions to engage through parks week

8th February 2017 - Parks Week to highlight the value of parks and open spaces

5th March 2016 - Public events mark Parks Week in Australia and New Zealand

3rd February 2016 - Parks Week to advocate for the value of the outdoors

4th December 2015 - NZRA and PLA combine to revive Parks Week

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