Queen Street goes car free for Playing in the Streets

For the first time, the lower end of Queen Street was closed and turning into a giant car-free family sports park on Sunday 19 February.

Playing in the Streets was an initiative of the Committee for Auckland’s Future Auckland Leaders programme and was inspired by international cities such as Bogota, New York and Copenhagen which have successfully opened streets to people.

More than 10,000 people took advantage of free sport on Queen Street. There was a smorgasbord of activities that included football, cricket, badminton, squash, netball, gym skills, cycling, zumba, aerobics and more

In our local board plan we have reflected our community’s commitment to ensure an environment that provides opportunities and places for children and young people to play, learn and interact with each other. Playing in the Street is an event that delivers this outcome for our community and I look forward to the next event.

In the photo, Waitemata Local Board members Chris Dempsey, Pippa Coom and I attended the first ever Playing in the Streets on Queen Street.

Seccombes Area Footpath Upgrade

Works commenced on the footpath upgrade in Seccombes Area over the holiday period.

Over the last year I have been working with SARRA (Seccombes Ave Residents Association) and Auckland Transport on the footpath, curb, and channelling upgrade in Almorah Place, Maungawhau Road and Seccombes Road.

There are approximately 2,000 school children a day that walk up and down Seccombes Road from St Peter’s College and Auckland Grammar School.

A collaborative but long process has resulted in some positive outcomes for the 140 households in the area and 2,000 school children; improvements to tree root hazards, berm erosion, pram and mobility scooter access, and tree pits to protect tree growth.