Randwick Skatepark

Randwick Skatepark is the concrete heart of Riverton Reserve in Randwick Park, Manurewa, and it was shaped by the people who ride it: local skater Walz Brown co-designed the expansion with Isthmus, keeping the original skate lines locals valued.¹ A full playground sits right beside it, so this South Auckland spot suits a scooter-mad eight year old and a toddler on the same trip.

Equipment

The skate area is a wide, smooth spread of grey and red-tinted concrete: a deep bowl, quarter pipes, a hump in the middle of the flat, ledges and hubbas, a stair set with handrails and several flat rails. Reviewers like the long flat runs for beginners and young scooter riders, though one skater notes some ramps drop straight to flat rather than curving out.

Next door, the playground designed by Randwick Park School children has a rocktopus, flying fox, double seesaws, basket swing, sandpit and a big timber module with monkey bars and a slide, on bark.² The shaded Kuzebo seating shelter came out of the kids' own models.² It has its own listing here as Randwick Park. Basketball and netball courts, a sand volleyball court and open sports fields fill the rest of the reserve.

History and Cultural

Randwick Park had a hard reputation in the 2000s. Auckland Council's $5.3 million redevelopment from 2010 added the playground, skatepark, courts and community centre, and a long-time local skater says the park has not been tagged since and kids feel safe staying until dark.³ The Manu Tukutuku centre overlooking the reserve opened in 2016, its name recalling the Manurewa kite.⁴

Practical Info

Park off Riverton Drive beside Manu Tukutuku, which has off-street parking and accessible toilets, with staff on site on weekdays.⁵ Reviewers say the car park gets tight to manoeuvre when full, and toilet cleanliness gets mixed reports. There is almost no shade over the concrete, so bring hats and water on hot days; a drinking fountain with a bottle tap stands by the volleyball court. Hyperion Drive Playground is a short walk south.