Skaters to get new Onehunga bowl

A new flow bowl will soon find its home at Onehunga Bay Reserve for those who love to skate, scooter or rollerblade.

The new installation will take roughly six months to complete, with construction due to start in the first quarter of 2025.

With extensions, a pump bump, hips, and a beginner-friendly roll-in channel, the new flow bowl aims to provide fun for users of all skill levels.

The Maungakiekie-Tāmaki Local Board and Auckland Council are responsible for developing the new flow bowl as part of a broader initiative to enhance recreational facilities.

Board chair Maria Meredith says the development reflects their commitment to create functional spaces for young people and recognising the need for more active, enjoyable areas.

Maungakiekie-Tāmaki Local Board Chair Maria Meredith says the development highlights their commitment to creating functional spaces for youth. Photo / Auckland Council

“This investment was prioritised to provide a facility that caters to a wide-ranging demographic, one that adds value to the reserve and will get the most use with the limited budget we have.”

Community engagement ensured the designs and upgrades met the needs and aspirations of residents and visitors, she said.

“While we know Onehunga’s vertical ramp has reached the end of its usable life and have heard from passionate skaters about the need for an Olympic-level skate facility in Auckland.

"Unfortunately, we don’t have the funding for such a facility at this very moment,” says Meredith.

Onehunga Bay Reserve has seen other recent upgrades including a new basketball half-court and refurbished outdoor fitness equipment.

Onehunga Bay reserve. Photo / Auckland Council

The new flow bowl will replace the relocatable pump track, which will be moved to a neighborhood in need of revitalization.

Additionally, in September 2024, the board adopted a wheeled play network study, assessing the area's facilities for activities such as scootering, skating, and biking.

Recent upgrades to the area's wheeled play facilities include a renovation of Panmure Basin Skate Park and the installation of a pump track at Fergusson Domain.

LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air.