The Fiordland Community Board and Southland District Council have this week released the final concept plans to the community.
Work was set to begin after Easter with local contractors engaged by project manager Creo, the Southland District Council said in a statement yesterday.
Community board chairwoman Diane Holmes was eager to see the project get under way.
"We’re very excited to see this concept plan finally become a reality.
"The playground will transform Lions Park and ensure it remains a popular spot for generations to come," she said.
"This has been a community-driven initiative following an extensive engagement phase which featured a number of different approaches, including a public survey and engagement with local play enthusiasts, the primary school and Lions Club.
"The Te Anau Basin Development Plan also sought feedback on playgrounds as a whole and the work on Lions Park and Henry St playground is part of that."
Ms Holmes acknowledged the role members of the Lions Club of Te Anau had played, now spanning decades.
"Now that much of the equipment has come to the end of its useful life, we are proud to continue the legacy by ensuring a fantastic playground remains at Lions Park."
It is one of two play spaces in the town benefiting from a revamp with the Henry St playground set to feature a range of new equipment with a focus on natural materials.
"The vision for the area has been driven by community engagement, insights and feedback and overall themes of all the playgrounds in Te Anau.
"Not all the play items have been installed, there is still more coming, but already we are seeing children enjoying the space," Ms Holmes said.
A grove of adult trees in Henry St, which have been assessed as past their useful life, will be removed tomorrow.
"We understand that there is some opposition to the trees coming down, and we have listened to that, but when a specialist identifies trees as needing to come out, we are not going to argue.
"We intend to do more planting to compliment the natural theme of the equipment currently being installed and want to know what the community would like to see in the playground for planting in the future."
"We always intended to come back and engage with the community on feedback for the landscaping to compliment the play equipment."
The project will cost about $660,000, with $260,000 of that being a grant from Fiordland Active Recreation Improvement.
There will be $16,708 contributed via a loan, and the remainder, $383,292, is from Fiordland Community Board reserves.
The ratepayer contribution was consulted on through the recent long-term plan process and has been approved. — APL
