The Leamington Domain Playground grand reopening on Saturday drew a crowd that seemed to include every child in Leamington – and even a few friends from across the district too.
Fun returns to the domain …
Leamington’s Domain Playground has reopened, after five months, with a vibrant community celebration. Families from across Waipā gathered on Saturday to enjoy 700 free sausages, train rides with the Cambridge Model Engineering Society, scavenger hunt adventures and a mix of new and refurbished playground equipment.
Cambridge News 10 July 2025
Despite looming rain clouds, the festivities began at 10am with queues quickly formed for the freebies – sausages, train rides and plants.
Fortunately, the weather held until just after the event wrapped up two hours later, when the skies finally opened.
The timing was perfect.
All 700 free sausages courtesy of Fresh Choice, Leamington had been eaten, the last of the hundreds of train rides on the Cambridge Model Engineering Society’s track enjoyed and the scavenger hunt complete.
Cambridge Model Engineering Society’s trains were back on the track after five months while the playground was rebuilt and offered free rides around the domain. Photo: Mary Anne Gill
Plus, hundreds of children had explored the new and preloved playground equipment.
The redesigned playground blends the familiar with the new. The steam roller – retired from council service in 1975 – has been moved, along with the slide and the long tree stumps and branches that were removed following Cyclone Gabrielle.
The playground rebuild began in February and incorporated ideas from children, as well as designs from Ngāti Koroki Kahukura and Ngāti Hauā.
The theme draws inspiration from Leamington’s cultural and horticultural heritage, including its connection to the river and the Māori use of borrow pits for gardening and crop cultivation.
Swinging high: Always a treat at any playground and just how high can children go? Photo: Mary Anne Gill
To celebrate this theme, Amber Garden Centre gave away 150 seedlings of carrots, peas, and strawberries, encouraging children to connect with nature and gardening.
Art also plays a central role in the playground’s design. Mana whenua artists Kauri Winikerei and Te Aroha Tauroa developed the artwork concepts, which were adapted by playground designer Brodie Hailwood and brought to life by artist Jeremy Shirley. Their work is woven throughout the space – from the rubber surfacing and swing frames to playful steel vegetable sculptures and painted marker posts.
The playground now features a large rope obstacle course, a toddler mound and slide, a kumara flower bowl spinner, trampolines, a timber hut, musical elements, and a three-bay swing set. The focus is on water, sand, and nature play, said Community Services manager Brad Ward.
George Bichan, 2 of Cambridge and Layla Clark, 3 of Tauwhare celebrated their birthdays with family and friends.
It continues to be a popular birthday party spot. On reopening day, George Bichan, 2 of Cambridge and Layla Clark, 3 of Tauwhare celebrated their special days with family and friends.
Mayor Susan O’Regan attended the event alongside elected members Clare St Pierre, Roger Gordon, Jo Davies-Colley, Kane Titchener, Alana Mackay and Andrew Myers.
Waipa mayor Susan O’Regan with Cambridge Community Board chair Jo Davies-Colley
“This playground is more than just a place to play; it’s a gathering spot for families, a heart of the Leamington community, and a symbol of Waipā’s ongoing investment in spaces that bring us together,” said O’Regan.
Waipā District offers a mix of destination and community playgrounds, including those at Papatakohe Park in Bridleways Estate, Lake Te Koo Utu, Terry Came Drive, Gwyneth Common, and Kings Garden in Cambridge; Pioneer Park, War Memorial Park, and Turere Reserve in Te Awamutu; and John Rochford Park in Kihikihi.
Railway ride queues formed early and stayed long for the two hours at the Leamington Domain playground reopening. Photo: Mary Anne Gill
A popular addition at the Leamington Domain playground was the digger in the sandpit. Photo: Mary Anne Gill
Aaron Donaldson, owner of Fresh Choice in Leamington, provided 700 free sausages at the opening and did the cooking himself. Photo: Mary Anne Gill
Leamington Domain playground reopens with free train rides. Photo: Mary Anne Gill
Leamington Domain playground reopens with the slide a popular attraction. Photo: Mary Anne Gill
