After a beautiful day on Saturday for the annual ‘Xmas on the Bay’ event the weather gods weren’t happy to play ball 2 days in a row! The official opening day for CPlay began as a rather soggy affair but thankfully by the time the community came to celebrate the event and the people that made it happen the weather improved.

Owne Jackson (OJ cut the cake with the Cplay committee. Back left: Roselyn and Chris Fauth and John Rushton. Middle from left: Sarah Dumicich-Mills, Louise Haley, Alice Brice, Lynette Wilson, Brent Birchfield, Leanne Prendeville and CPlay family. Absent: Francine Spencer and Graham Ward.

CPlay Chairperson, Owen Jackson (OJ) said the plans for the opening weren’t adversely affected by the weather. “We had done all the organising and with us being so close to Christmas we weren’t able to have a postponement day so it was a case of the ‘show must go on’, and it did”, he said.

OJ said the day was about celebrating the CPlay volunteers who went above and beyond to make this playground come to life and during the ceremony Councillor Stacy Scott was able to present each of them with a Timaru District Community Award which was a special moment.

CPlay volunteer Roselyn Fauth thanking the sponsors, supporters, suppliers and contractors. - Photo Geoff Cloake

CPlay volunteer Roselyn Fauth said that the day was also an opportunity to thank the contractors and suppliers who were involved in bringing the playground vision to life including, Playground Centre, Creo, Rooney Earthmoving & Curle Contracting.

“This community has been incredibly supportive of this playground and we wanted to be able to share this day with them and say thanks for being part of the CPlay journey”, she said.

Another highlight of the day was receiving a cake from Felicity Gabites of Just Eat Cake and Tracey Johnson of Designer Cakes modelled on the bespoke CPlay centrepieces, the Lighthouse and the Shipwreck.

CPlay volunteer, Leanne Prendeville said the cake was exceptionally well received with every last piece being eaten by the crowd of supporters.

Some of the CPlay volunteers and families - Photo Geoff Cloake

“The CPlay team and the crowd were totally blown away by the masterpiece that Felicity and Tracy had created and it really was the star of the show, pardon the pun, but it really was the icing on the cake, and we were absolutely thrilled with it, so a huge thanks to Felicity and Tracy”.

Epic cake gifted to the opening event - Photo Geoff Cloake

CPlay volunteer, Louise Haley who coordinated the day said “the children enjoyed a massive lolly scramble and although the weather wasn’t conducive for the Police to race FENZ through the full obstacle course a mini race was organised with FENZ taking the bragging rights”.

CPlay Volunteer Chris Fauth watches the fun on the floor is lava ninja walls - Photo Geoff Cloake

CPlay volunteer Chris Fauth plays on the floor is lava obstical course with 9 year old daughter Medinella Fauth. - Photo Geoff Cloake

Sisters Medinella (9) on the slide and Annabelle (5) play on the slides. - Photo Geoff Cloake

CPlay embraces a range of ages, stages, abilities, and sizes to foster inclusive play. As well as locals, people visiting South Canterbury are invited to embark on a fun-filled journey exploring the shipwreck, conquering the lighthouse slide tower, engaging with the mahika kai-themed play area, challenging themselves in the floor-is-lava obstacle course, and soaring through the air on a 50m tandem flying fox under the watchful eye of the taniwha. Imagination can run wild as visitors draw inspiration from the stories and history of the area while playing at the bay.

Situated within Caroline Bay Park, this destination playground and the surrounding courts, bikes skills and skate park, stands as one of the Southern Hemisphere's largest, making it a must-visit for families. Bring along bikes, skateboards, balls, and picnic gear to make the most of the surrounding amenities, including a paddling pool, tennis courts, basketball courts, bike polo, skate park, and a bike skills park.

CPlay is designed to cater to a wide range of abilities, body sizes, and ages, promoting inclusive play. The playground's layout encourages more challenging, open-ended, and imaginative play, stimulating both physical and mental activity. With a focus on safety, the play equipment and surfacing are designed to be safer, stronger, and more durable.

Visitors to the bay will now enjoy year-round comfort with improved drainage, seating, tables, and shade. The playground is not just a recreational space; it serves as a connection to Māori and European stories, history, and heritage, themed to the Caroline Bay environment. It provides a unique space for learning through movement, communication, observation, interaction, curiosity, and experimentation.

Sisters Medinella (9) and Annabelle (5) go for a ride on the dolphin. - Photo Geoff Cloake

The opening represented a handing over of the playground to the Timaru District Council who will now act as custodians and maintain it as an important asset for the community to enjoy for many years to come.

Community ring the shipwreck bell to celebrate the new playground. - Photo Geoff Cloake

Crowd rings the bell at the new Caroline Bay Playground - Photo by Creo

Even the famous friends joined in on the fun!  - Photo Geoff Cloake

The new destination playground at Caroline Bay in Timaru, affectionately known as CPlay, officially opened 10th December 2023 after more than five years of planning and hard work. Inspired by the Margaret Mahy playground in Christchurch, the project. The dedicated team of volunteers collaborated with the community and the support of the Timaru District Council, sponsors and contractors to bring the ambitious vision to life.

The CPlay playground, now one of the Southern Hemisphere's largest, features bespoke elements reflecting the region's environment, heritage, and culture. The playground tells the local story through unique features such as a 14.5m long shipwreck, a 10m high lighthouse, a 50m tandem double flying fox, and more. The playground design was driven by community input, ensuring it has play offering for a range of ages, abilities and interests and to inspire imaginative play.

The playground, recognized as a significant asset for the Timaru District, is expected to attract visitors and enhance the local economy. The opening marks the end of an unforgettable journey, showcasing what a community can achieve when working towards a common goal.

Acknowledgments were extended to the Timaru District Council, major platinum sponsors, diamond sponsors, and key contractors, as well as other businesses and families who contributed to the project's success. CPlay expressed gratitude for the support, with advice, and both financial and in-kind, that played a crucial role in creating a remarkable playspace for the community to learn, grow, and connect. The playground is now open to the public, symbolizing the culmination of a remarkable journey of self-discovery and community achievement.

01April 2023 - CPlay playground underway - Drone Photo by Jack Rushton

11 December - CPlay playground opened - Drone Photo by Jack Rushton