Levin Adventure Park named one of the best

Thursday 16 July 2015

Levin Adventure Park named one of the best

The Levin Adventure Park has been recognised as "one of the best in the business".

This is according to the world's largest travel site Trip Advisor, which has awarded it a Certificate of Excellence with five stars, based on ratings by members of the public.

Levin Adventure Park Charitable Trust chairperson Pam Good said it is a wonderful endorsement as it is a prestigious award that can be earned only through consistently great reviews.

"All our reviews were positive, with comments such as the Park is their children's favourite playground, it's the best in New Zealand, a rainbow-coloured paradise, a real asset to the community, having an excellent range of equipment, spotlessly clean, great toilets with hot water, and so on," she said.

"As well as local families using the Park, so many people passing through Levin will stop and spend time there, and many other visitors actually make it their destination."

The Trip Advisor Certificate of Excellence is the second award the Adventure Park has gained, with the previous one from Keep New Zealand Beautiful acknowledging the quality of the Park's toilets.

The vision of founders Helen and the late Collis Blake, MNZM, the Trust was established in 2001 with the sole purpose to develop a children's adventure park on what was a seven acre disused site in Levin's main street, formerly the old Levin School which had burnt down.

"Our daughter Susan and I visited children's play areas all over the lower North Island to get ideas and find out what children liked and didn't like," Mrs Blake said.

"We insisted on keeping the field for kids to run around in, play games and kick balls and so on. Something else we insisted on was that the park remain free of charge, including the train."

Mrs Good said with help from Horowhenua District Council, which also maintains the Levin Adventure Park, a strategic plan has recently been established for it.

"There are six different stages, that we envisage completing over the next 10 to 12 years or so. As well as more equipment, the plan includes defining areas, additions such as more seating and pathways, and even building a sound-shell that can be used for events or by children for creative play," she said.

"The Park is great now, but it's set to become even greater."

ENDS

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