Bruno Gilmour, senior landscape architect and reporting officer for the Hatea Loop projects, standing in an area where one of six new exercise stations is to be built. Photo / Michael Cunningham
Bruno Gilmour, senior landscape architect and reporting officer for the Hatea Loop projects, standing in an area where one of six new exercise stations is to be built. Photo / Michael Cunningham
Improvements aim to make pathway easier and safer to use
Exercise stations, new seating and a safer pathway are set to make the Hatea Loop more user friendly.
Bruno Gilmour, senior landscape architect and reporting officer for the Hatea Loop projects, said the new amenities were part of making the loop more accessible.
"We see [the loop] as a flexible framework where we can collaborate with local community groups. It's very adaptable and open to initiatives from the community," Mr Gilmour said.
Six exercise stations scattered around the loop are set to be installed this year. One larger multi
generational station will be placed on the Hihiaua side of the loop closer to the Town Basin.
"That will include resistance machines you find in the gym but suitable for the outdoors. This is something that's suitable for everyone and when I say everyone I mean that little kid on his bike, to an elderly lady."
The five others are single stations which will be scattered around the loop and designed for people who are fitter.
"The individual stations are for people who can run along, stop and use say the pull-up bar, and then run to the next station and use what's there ... things like the bench press and pull up bars," he said.
Mr Gilmour said the project is community driven with the Lions Club taking the initiative and fundraising to help fund the stations.
Sparked by requests from the public, the Hatea Loop will also be getting additional seating.
An artist's impression of what the new seating may look like.
"People were asking for the seating to be slightly higher so they don't have to bend down so far and for there to be armrests so people can push themselves up."
Mr Gilmour said about six large steel pipes could be used as a base for the seats at different spots on the loop.
Along with exercise stations and additional seating a new pathway is set to be built along the waterfront on Riverside Drive to improve the safety of walkers, runners and cyclists.
"There's been a desire from the early stages to move the path towards the waterfront. Currently it goes along Riverside Drive and it's quite a narrow footpath and goes around a blind corner."
Mr Gilmour said he expected both the seating and the Riverside Drive track to be implemented within the next 12 months.
