It's cost Ngongotaha Kindergarten $159,000 and several years to complete, but it has now officially opened its new playground and garden.
Parents, staff and children yesterday agreed it had been worth waiting for.
The landscaped play area features vegetable gardens, a raised wooden bridge, a large sandpit, a whare, a dolphin sculpture and new jungle gyms.
More than 50 parents and teachers and 40 children gathered for the opening ceremony and Maori blessing.
Head teacher Jacqui Brouwer said the playground was the result of "weaving everybody's dreams and ideas together" and was a celebration of a huge community effort.
The playground was designed by Barbara Lingard, a qualified playground safety officer and employee of the Central North Island Kindergarten Association.
Jan Ballantyne, general manager of the Central North Island Kindergarten Association, said she was "absolutely delighted" with the way the playground had turned out. "It's wonderful for us to have such a large playground, and it has real atmosphere."
Children could reconfigure the playing equipment which targeted self-help skills, she said.
One special feature is the raised wooden bridge above a new shrubbery. Fragrant plants, like jasmine, rosemary and lavender, are in the shrubbery to add enjoyment for the children. The footpath through the shrubbery is interspersed with brightly-coloured mosaics of indigenous birds. The large sandpit has a rack alongside it, covered with sun hats for the children to wear while they are outside, and a tool shed with spades and forks for use in the sandpit.
Anna Weaver, whose 4-year-old son Oliver attends, was at the opening.
"It's fabulous," she said. "I'm really proud to send my children here. The bridge - the kids love the bridge, it's always exciting for them to stomp over it," she said.
The revamp of the playground was funded by the Central North Island Kindergarten Association and more than 14 years' effort from the local community.
Kindergarten opens new playground and garden
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