Five of Manawatū's top playgrounds | Palmerston North City & Manawatu

With an abundance of playgrounds in Manawatū, here are our top picks for your littlies to be entertained for hours. From slides to swings, rockets to butterflies, rock-climbing walls to tic tac toe; explore our region’s playgrounds for some fantastic free fun all year round!

Apollo Park

The recently upgraded Apollo Park boasts a fun playground with a spinning rocket and a face-to-face expression swing where you can swing together with your little one. Incorporating a butterfly theme as inspired by the magical monarch butterfly sanctuary at the rear of the park, this truly is Milson’s hidden gem!

Apollo Park, Milson, Palmerston North

Victoria Esplanade

A local’s favourite, Victoria Esplanade’s junior playground is a popular spot on a glorious day. You’ll be sheltered under the shade sails while having fun at Manawatu’s largest playground. With multiple slides and swings, trampolines, mouse wheels and a flying fox for the bigger kids. Don’t forget to hop from mushroom to mushroom, one of the original features of the playground.

Victoria Esplanade, Palmerston North

Memorial Park

One of the city’s major parks, Memorial Park boasts a playground suitable for all abilities. Featuring a Liberty Swing, which is a wheelchair friendly swing (the key to access the swing is available from the Palmerston North City i-SITE in The Square). Pre-schoolers enjoy the puzzles, ladders, ramps and slides and can cool off afterwards in the fenced paddling pool nearby.

Memorial Park, Palmerston North

Ashhurst Domain

Located a short 10-minute drive from Palmerston North, Ashhurst Domain has two extensive playgrounds, including a flying fox. Have races down the double slide or drive side-by-side in the play car. Picnic and BBQ areas are close by, so this is a perfect go-to for a family day out!

Ashhurst Domain, Ashhurst

Timona Park

In friendly Feilding you’ll find the Timona Park childrens’ playground. This recently upgraded playground features a super-fun tiered fort with multiple mini-slides – a perfect way for kids to burn off their energy running back up to the top!

Timona Park, Feilding

Overview of planning undertaken The strategy/planning put in place to achieve growth, including the goals, actions and timeframes.	20%
Evidence of what the company has done How growth was achieved and is there a document or electronic record outlining the planning undertaken and the achievement. Evidence of other significant business achievements. Obstacles, risks and challenges encountered and how these were overcome.	15%
Innovation/creative thinking  What is being done to create an environment for continuous improvement and innovation and is this business as usual or out of the box thinking.	30%
Outcome for the business How success vs. goals has been measured and evidence of  sustainability of the growth. Other significant business achievements over the last 12-18 months.	30%
Outcome for the Manawatū region Employment, exports, greater awareness of the region and whether the company is a regional ambassador. Promotion of the principals of Te Tiriti O Waitangi (Participation, Protection and Partnership).	5%

Overview of planning undertaken  The legacy that you would you like your business to leave. The planning that has been undertaken to ensure that a legacy is left.	20%
Evidence of what the company has done What has the company done in terms of Māori identity and values and how is this integrated in the organisation? Provide evidence of this.	15%
Innovation/creative thinking What is done to encourage innovation in the business.	15%
Outcome for the business Encouragement of the organisation to understand and embrace the principals of Te Tiriti O Waitangi (Participation, Protection and Partnership).	20%
Outcome for the Manawatū region How the business is marketed to showcase value and identity. Impact of your business on the community in terms of social, environmental and economic impacts.	30%

Overview of planning undertaken  Policies or procedures in place to encourage innovation, and how the innovation was identified and planned.	15%
Evidence of what the company has done  Evidence of planning documents with goals, actions and time frames. Evidence of innovation implemented.  The risks and challenges faced and how these were overcome.	10%
Innovation/creative thinking  Information on whether there is an environment of continued improvement and innovation - what is done when a new idea is suggested, how innovation is encouraged, is there a business as usual or out of the box approach and the uniqueness of the innovation.	40%
Outcome for the business  Measurement of success vs. goals, how are the benefits maximised and sustained for growth, what were the business achievements over the last 12 to 18 months, and learnings for the business.	30%
Outcome for the Manawatū region  Impact of the innovation: employment, is the company exporting, greater awareness of the region and whether the company is a regional ambassador .	5%

Overview of planning undertaken              How the company planned and approached the marketing campaign using customer research and/or market insights.	20%
Evidence of what the company has done  Evidence of the campaign planning including measurable objectives, campaign implementation and evaluation of campaign effectiveness.	15%
Innovation/creative thinking                       Innovation/creative thinking demonstrated throughout the campaign from development to execution.	30%
Outcome for the business                                The campaign has had a positive impact on the business and achieved the set objectives.	35%

Overview of planning undertaken   Planning that was undertaken in relation to talent attraction, recruitment, development and retention.	20%
Evidence of what the company has done  Evidence on how the business demonstrated promoting diversity and fostering inclusion, pay equity, talent development, health, safety and wellbeing.	15%
Innovation/creative thinking   Did the business show innovation or creative thinking in talent attraction, recruitment, development and retention.	30%
Outcome for the business   Did the talent initiatives show a positive outcome for the business. Has the business evaluated the impact of the programme and shown evidence of this.	30%
Outcome for the Manawatū region Describe the impact that your innovation with talent initiative(s) has had on the wider Manawatū region in terms of skills development and employment.	5%

Five of Manawatū’s top playgrounds

With an abundance of playgrounds in Manawatū, here are our top picks for your littlies to be entertained for hours. From slides to swings, rockets to butterflies, rock-climbing walls to tic tac toe; explore our region’s playgrounds for some fantastic free fun all year round!

Apollo Park

Victoria Esplanade

Memorial Park

Ashhurst Domain

Timona Park

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Overview of planning undertaken  Evidence on how the initiative(s) were conceptualised and planned and the how the impact is measured.	15%
Evidence of what the company has done  Evidence of how the initiative(s) were introduced and what was achieved.	15%
Innovation/creative thinking  Are the initiative(s) implemented as a result of a business as usual approach or out of the box thinking, and how were staff and the community engaged in the initiative(s).	20%
Outcome for business  Details on the benefits for the business in terms of financial and the non-financial impacts such as reputation, brand and corporate citizenship. How will the initiative become sustainable.	20%
Outcome for the Manawatū region  Details on how this initiative(s) impacted/benefitted the community and the broader region. This includes social, environmental, cultural, and economic impacts. Promotion of the principals of Te Tiriti O Waitangi (Participation, Protection and Partnership).	30%

Five of Manawatū’s top playgrounds

With an abundance of playgrounds in Manawatū, here are our top picks for your littlies to be entertained for hours. From slides to swings, rockets to butterflies, rock-climbing walls to tic tac toe; explore our region’s playgrounds for some fantastic free fun all year round!

Apollo Park

Victoria Esplanade

Memorial Park

Ashhurst Domain

Timona Park

Want to find out What’s On in Manawatu?

Sign-up to our newsletter!

We’ll send inspiration your way on things to do, people to see and places to go.

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