Hickford Park

Hickford Park's playground is a medium sized set on bark surfacing that has served Bell Block families since before 2019, built to suit a wide range of ages from toddlers through to primary schoolers. It sits right next to the skatepark, so older kids on wheels have their own space rather than competing for room with the swings, and the whole reserve sits about eight kilometres from central New Plymouth on Smeaton Road, alongside three fields used for rugby, soccer and cricket through the seasons.

Equipment

The play area is built around a multi-play structure, a see-saw, and swings that include both an infant seat and a basket swing, rounded out with a bowl rocker for the youngest visitors. Sunshade sails went in over the equipment in 2025, after years without any cover, so summer visits are far more comfortable now.

Access and Inclusion

The park is reached off Smeaton Road with roadside parking right at the gate. Footpaths and cycleways run from the park toward Bell Block Beach and link into the wider Coastal Walkway network, so it works as a stop on a longer ride as easily as a stand-alone visit.

Practical Info

A toilet block, picnic tables and seating sit beside the skatepark, and the open sports fields double as informal picnic and kick-about space when they are not booked for a match.