Scarborough Park

A giant mouse wheel, an eagle's lair climbing net and a dancing snake rope swing give Scarborough Park's playground a full marine theme, right where the Sumner Promenade ends and the Te Ara Ihutai coastal path begins, making it one of the most scenic play stops in Christchurch for a wide range of ages.

Equipment

A large climbing tower sits alongside a horse on a spring, an inground carousel, a see saw, slides, swings with an infant swing and basket swing, and nature play elements. A seasonal paddling pool next to the toilets adds water play on hot days, across a site of around 500 square metres of purpose built play space.

Access and Inclusion

The playground has a wheelchair accessible entrance, and paths through the main areas are formed for strollers and wheelchairs. The play area is partially fenced along the roadside, an important feature given its position beside the coastal road into Sumner.

History and Cultural

Scarborough, the hillside suburb above the park, takes its name from the English seaside resort of Scarborough in North Yorkshire, and sits between Sumner and Te Onepoto, Taylors Mistake. The 2011 Christchurch earthquakes damaged this coastline, collapsing cliff faces and red zoning some nearby land, and the playground was rebuilt in 2018 around blue water tones, sandy yellows and red starfish motifs as part of the wider post quake work along the Sumner coast.

Practical Info

The park is on the Esplanade in Sumner, with on street angle parking nearby and picnic tables, seating, a drinking fountain and public toilets on site. The paddling pool typically runs from mid November to late March, and no dogs are permitted within the park itself. The connection to Te Ara Ihutai makes it an easy add on to a walk or cycle along the Sumner to Ferrymead coastline, best visited outside peak summer weekend afternoons when the beach crowd spills into the park.