Kennedy Park

Kennedy Park is a well stocked playground above Castor Bay on Auckland's North Shore, built around a big rope climbing web and a shaded sandpit, with a separate junior zone for toddlers alongside. It suits a wide age range and pairs naturally with the walk down to the beach.

Equipment

Alongside the rope web and sandpit under shade sails, the main area has swings, slides, a rock wall and a merry go round. A separate preschool and junior zone nearby has its own smaller slides and swings, also shaded. Two drinking fountains are registered on site, and the playground is confirmed in Auckland Council's own asset register.

History and Cultural

The wider reserve carries real history. Rahopara Pa, a Maori pa site named for the ancestor Peretu, sits on the same headland as the Castor Bay Battery, two 6 inch gun emplacements and a Battery Observation Post built from April 1941 to cover the Whangaparaoa Passage minefield. The guns were delivered from the Naval Armaments Depot at Kauri Point and test fired that July. A walking track connects the park down to Castor Bay Beach, though the stairs have had periodic closures.

Access and Inclusion

An accessible toilet sits in the car park, and the junior zone's own shade cloths make it a comfortable stop with younger children. The park sits in the Devonport-Takapuna local board area, with access from Beach Road and on-street parking nearby.