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

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