Whanganui Community Bike Park nominated for national award

The Community Bike Park at Springvale Park has been nominated for a Sport New Zealand award. Photo / File

Whanganui's Community Bike Park is up for a national award, and Sport Whanganui sees it as a big victory for members of the community who helped behind the scenes.

The project has been nominated in community impact category in Sport New Zealand's Sport and Recreation Awards.

The nomination comes three months after the park was hit by vandals, who ripped down signs in the learn-to-ride section of the park.

Jodie Brunger, Sport Whangnaui's community manager, said she couldn't stop smiling when she found out the park was nominated.

"I was absolutely blown away because I know how hard it is to be a finalist in some regional awards, let alone a national award."

The park took around 18 months to complete, and was officially opened in December last year.

Sport Whanganui chief executive Danny Jonas said it's proven to be a popular spot for kids of all ages.

"It's a great area for pre-schoolers to learn the road rules, and for more confident riders to get out and have fun.

"I don't think I've ever driven past and not seen activity there."

Brunger said it's a humbling experience seeing the effort that went into making the park a reality to now being acknowledged for that work.

"The park wouldn't have happened without the community input, I was really overwhelmed by the support of the community.

"There's a story behind every little part of the park, the signage that was carved by a friend of mine, the seating that was designed and made by Whanganui Intermediate students with donated timber, to the lighting that was donated and installed free of charge."

Jonas also acknowledged the joint community effort.

"From our perspective, this is a substantial project that was led and driven by the community, for the community," he said.

"The amount of resources that went into this project at no cost was phenomenal."

Other finalists for the community impact award include Sport Waitakere for its Gear Up Our Schools project, Sport Gisborne Tairāwhiti for the Waikirikiri Playground Project, and Aktive Auckland Sport and Recreation for its Good Sports programme.

Award winners will be announced at the NZ Sport and Recreation Awards dinner on Monday, June 24, at Auckland's Cordis Hotel to coincide with the Sport NZ Connections Conference.

Jonas and Brunger both hope to be in Auckland for the event, alongside Glen Bullock of B. Bullock, who played a significant role in building the park.