By the Explore Dunedin news desk · Published Thursday 12 November 2026
Dunedin City Council has signed off the design for the Marlow Park destination playground upgrade, with a recreated dinosaur slide and a large whale play structure. The upgraded playground is planned to reopen in June 2027.
- Open until
- Late January; the playground then closes from February while work is done
- Reopening
- Planned for June 2027
- Budget
- $4.6 million, allocated in the council's 9 Year Plan 2025–2034
The existing dinosaur slide will not stay as it is. Instead, a 3D scan of the familiar head and neck will be used to make a copy, which moves to a new slide area on a slope with a deck and ramp, and the original structure comes out.
Councillors chose that option 8–5 at their meeting on Thursday 5 November, in a separate vote from the one approving the overall design.
A whale and a waka in the middle
The new centrepiece is a whale play structure coming from Monstrum, the play equipment company that is designing and building it. It will be 11.5 metres long and up to 5 metres high, with a play space inside, a slide, climbing nets, climbing poles and parallel bars.
A 6-metre waka will sit beside it. The central area covers 550 square metres and also has climbing, balancing, sensory and accessible play. The theme running through the park is Maui the navigator and the voyages of Māori and Polynesian people to Aotearoa.
Elsewhere the plans include flying foxes, swings, an inclusive carousel, a rope swing, a dual racing slide, an accessible slide, a large climbing tower, water and sand play areas, and a nature play area built with local logs and rocks.
Communication boards using English, te reo Māori and symbols will let children point to show what they want to do next or ask for a turn.
Riders get a new pump track set into the ground and a little bigger than today’s, while basketball drops to a half court with one hoop.
The skate and parkour areas are still being designed with those groups. Paths, seating, drinking fountains, shade, electric barbecues, picnic tables and bike and scooter parking are also being upgraded; the toilets have already been done.
When the playground closes
After feedback on an earlier plan to close it over the Christmas holidays, the council says the current playground will stay open until late January, although small areas may be fenced off for early work.
From February, old equipment will be removed and ground and foundation work will begin, with the playground closed to the public, possibly in stages. New equipment is due to go in from March 2027. The learn-to-ride area will stay reachable during construction through temporary entrances that will move from time to time.
Isaac Construction, working with Jasmax and Monstrum, is the lead contractor. Councillors also asked staff to keep seeking grants or sponsorship to add more play options. The vote details are in the council’s announcement, and closure updates will be on the Marlow Park project page. For the park as it is now, see our guide to Marlow Park.
- Dunedin City Council: DCC approves latest Marlow Park design upgrade, released 5 November 2026
- Dunedin City Council: Marlow Park destination playground upgrade (project page), released 5 November 2026
Explore Dunedin news desk: news@exploredunedin.nz. Spotted something wrong? Tell us and we’ll correct it.
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