Splash Planet’s Tiny Town playground in Hastings is set for a colourful and creative transformation, thanks to a unique collaboration between Hastings District Council and Karamū High School’s design and visual communication students.
The project, which reimagines the beloved former ‘Noddy Town’, is part of Council’s recent decision to trial keeping Tiny Town and some of Splash Planet’s dry attractions open over winter, rather than closing the park entirely at the end of the summer season.
This summer, visitors will find a refreshed and reimagined Tiny Town, with miniature buildings designed to reflect iconic Hastings landmarks including Arataki Honey, Birdwoods Gallery, Lilac Bakery, Toitoi – Hawke’s Bay Arts & Events Centre, Willowpark Road Church and Rush Munro’s.
“The buildings are first being sanded and painted white before artist Brandon Blair, from Crimson Flower, creator of many colourful murals around the city, brings the students’ designs to life,” said Council aquatics, sport and recreation manager, Tom Page.
“An engineer is also converting the Tiny Town well into a mini replica of the Hastings Clock Tower.”
Mr Blair said he was impressed with the students’ ideas.
“A lot of the drawings are outstanding – you can really tell what business or building they represent. Since Tiny Town is for young children, we’re going to complement these designs with a bright, cheerful colour palette.”
Karamū High School head of Design and Visual Communication, Maiken Calkoen said the Year 10 students spent three to four weeks on the project, creating digital and physical models and numerous sketches.
“The engagement has been amazing. It’s been a valuable chance for students to connect with a real-life design brief, and the feedback from Council has been encouraging.”
Some of the students talked to their families about their memories of Hastings to help shape their designs.
Tawa Mitchell, 14, said “it was fun to do something that will actually become real, rather than just staying on screen”.
Fellow student, Cooper Harvey, 14, said it took him out of his comfort zone “in a good way”.
Preparation for the upgrades is now underway, with the buildings painted white before the new designs are added later in July.
