Improving accessibility: Riccarton Bush and House
One of the five key goals of the Pūtaringamotu Riccarton Bush Enhancement Project is to improve accessibility for all people, including people with mobility restrictions and parents with very young children.
Pūtaringamotu / Riccarton Bush is a bush oasis in the heart of a city – a place where people of all ages and socioeconomic backgrounds connect with nature, exercise, and socialise. It is a place that is already well-utilised, located close to the Riccarton Bus Exchange and on a major cycleway route through the city, but it needs an upgrade to ensure that as many visitors as possible can move through and experience the bush safely.
The bush has 1360m of track within it comprising a mix of concrete, boardwalk, and shingle. Paths, boardwalks, and seating are old and, in many cases, damaged or rotten and in desperate need of upgrades to make them safe and accessible. In many places at present, the paths and boardwalks are too narrow for wheelchair or pushchair users or those with mobility aids to pass safely, and trip hazards are common due to poor clearance of roots and cracked and damaged concrete.
Local schools are hugely reliant on Pūtaringamotu as the space/place for so much of their education outside the classroom and in relation to so many different cultural, environmental, and social learning outcomes. Transport costs are a huge barrier to opportunities for learning outside the classroom, and for schools across Christchurch, Riccarton Bush is by far the most accessible bush experience. Proximity to the Riccarton Bus Exchange adds to this accessibility. We know that for many of our tamariki, for whom transport, parental time, and cost barriers are at play, Pūtaringamotu is their only experience of the New Zealand bush: Riccarton Bush is a treasure which we wholeheartedly want to see preserved for future generations.
The present trail and boardwalk infrastructure does not support true accessibility, and the team look forward to the implementation of the upgrade so that wheelchair users, tamariki with visual disabilities and whānau helpers with pushchairs can much more easily embrace the bush experience.
Certain areas of the boardwalk have started to deteriorate; the concrete paths have become uneven, posing a tripping hazard. Additionally, the signage is outdated, providing visitors with limited information on the cultural importance of this special place.
The Future
The Enhancement project aims to achieve the following objectives:
Integrate Ngāi Tūāhuriri values, associations, and narratives into the design, art, entrance experience, and interpretation of Pūtaringamotu/Riccarton Bush. Improve the track system and infrastructure.
Develop the Grove area to accommodate larger groups visiting Pūtaringamotu/Riccarton Bush.
Provide educational interpretation that encourages engagement and participation.
Donate Now
To ensure the future of Riccarton Bush, a total of $2.4 million is needed to fund the Enhancement project. Your donation can help protect, conserve, and enhance this important landmark for future generations.
