RICH Landscapes Blog

From Medieval Streets to Modern Skateparks: Lessons in Public Space

A two-week study tour through Italy and the UK exploring how historic streets, contemporary skateparks and public spaces shape the way people move, gather and interact. Reflections on materiality, simplicity and designing places that stand the test of time.

Maclean Park Skatepark Taking Shape

Progress at the Maclean Park Skatepark Renewal in Paraparaumu

2 weeks to go before the Tauranga Destination Skatepark is open!

Tauranga Destination Skatepark almost complete

Should History Be Considered When Redesigning Skateparks?

A discussion on the history of skateparks and whether they should be considered when redeveloping a park

Tauranga Skatepark well underway

Tauranga Destination Skatepark is coming together

20 Years + in the Business!

Celebrating 20 Years + in the business

Embracing Diversity in Skatepark Culture: Celebrating User Types and Subgroups

Unleashing Skatepark Potential: Exploring the Dynamic World of Pool Coping Blocks

Exploring the History, Profiles, and Finishes of Pool Coping Blocks

Exciting Revival: Taupo Skatepark Undergoes Transformation

Faringdon Pump Track nearing completion

RNZ Interview with Richard Smith: Street Skater to Million Dollar Park Designer

RNZ Interview with Richard Smith discussing his Journey as a Skatepark Designer

Illumination for Safety; Lighting in Skateparks and Public Spaces

Skatepark Lighting and how it is good for communities

Tawa Skatepark Progress

Christchurch Skatepark Developments

Christchurch Skatepark Redevelopments: St. Albans, Bishopdale and Sumner Skatepark Village Green.

Tawa Skatepark Redevelopment to commence soon

The Tawa Skatepark Redevelopment will be commencing this Summer with the complete redevelopment of the skatepark into a modern skate facility.

Alfred Cox Skatepark is now open!

Alfred Cox Skatepark was reopened on the 3rd of October 2022 by the Tairāwhiti Adventure Trust to local users and stakeholders

Hikurangi Skatepark Redevelopment Design

Hikurangi Skatepark Redevelopment Design

Flaxmere Skatepark Progress

Construction progress on the new Flaxmere Skatepark

X Air 2022 Competition

2022 X AIR Competition Course designed by RICH Landscapes

Alfred Cox Skatepark (Gisborne) Construction Progress

Alfred Cox Skatepark in Gisborne is nearing completion. Designed by RICH Landscapes and Built by Angus McMillan Concrete all made possible by the Tairawhiti Adventure Trust

Maidstone Max Tō Tātou Papa Tākaro wins Recreation Aotearoa Playground of the Year Award for 2022

Maidstone Max Tō Tātou Papa Tākaro designed by RICH Landscapes wins Recreation Aotearoa Playground of the Year Award for 2022

Alfred Cox Skatepark Redevelopment

The Alfred Cox Skatepark redevelopment in Te Tai Rāwhiti (Gisborne)

Masterton Skatepark almost Complete

Masterton Skatepark designed by RICH Landscapes is nearing completion

Maidstone Max Park Integrated Playground and Skatepark

Pohe Island Skatepark Redevelopment

The Pohe Island Skatepark Redevelopment has been taking shape with the body of earthworks and retaining features completed across the site.

Glenfield Skate Dot

The Glenfield Skate Dot has been coming together at Normanton Reserve, with the demolition of the existing feature and implementation of the new carve wall with pump bumps.

Feilding Skatepark Complete

The Feilding Skatepark has been completed and is now open to the public.

Maidstone Park Design in Upper Hutt is Out!

After much anticipation we are pleased to announce the release of the final design for the Maidstone Max Adventure Playground Renewal in Upper Hutt.

Pohe Island Skatepark Redevelopment Set to Commence Soon

The Pohe Island Skatepark Redevelopment is set to start construction in the near future with the complete Redevelopment of the existing Skatepark, a new Skateable Art Feature and Learner Wheeled Play Environment.

Jack Pringle Mini Ramp Completed

The Jack Pringle Skatepark Renewal in Te Atatu, Auckland has been completed and is ready to go!

Ngunguru Skatepark Development Nearing Completion

The majority of construction has been completed at the Ngunguru Skatepark Development with the final slab curing, grouting and sealing to be completed.

Jack Pringle Skatepark Upgrade

The Jack Pringle Skatepark in Te Atatu, Auckland is currently getting upgraded with a new Miniramp with flyout feature that includes a Levi Hawkin Motif graphic along the retaining walls.

Ngunguru Skatepark Nearing Completion

Slipping in under the radar, the Ngunguru Skatepark Development has been taking shape and is nearing completion!

Jack Pringle Skatepark Upgrade

Last year we were fortunate enough to be given the opportunity to design a small upgrade to Jack Pringle Skatepark in Te Atatu, Auckland.

Good things on there way in Fielding!

Things have been shaping up in Feilding with the development of their new concrete skatepark beside the Makino Aquatic Centre.

Ngunguru Skatepark Construction Commences

Construction of the Ngunguru Skatepark commences this week at the Sports and Recreation Grounds with establishment of site fencing and initial setout works.

Masterton Skatepark Concept

The Masterton Skatepark Renewal Concept is out and it would be great to hear your thoughts on the proposed design.

Fielding Skatepark Development

Construction of the new Feilding Skatepark is set to begin at the end of January 2020!

Residential Skate Environment Underway

Construction has been well underway on a Residential Skate Environment we helped design for a client in Christchurch last year.

Mangawhai Skatepark Development

The Mangawhai Activity Zone received some sizeable funding recently to complete further stages of the Skatepark Development

Pohe Island Skatepark Redevelopment Design Released!

We are proud to announce the release of the Pohe Island Skatepark Redevelopment Design for William Fraser Memorial Park in Whangarei.

Elise Morton Skatepark Progress

A few weeks ago we got past the Elise Morton Skatepark Renewal to check on how things were progressing.

Warkworth Skatepark and Wheeled Play Activity Zone Concept

Last year we had the privilege of working on a comprehensive development envisioned for the Warkworth area in the Upper North Area.

Melville Skatepark and Playground Renewal Concept

Here is the concept we completed for the renewal of Melville Skatepark and Playground in Hamilton.

Clendon Skatepark Renewal

Clendon Skatepark in Auckland City is set to get a refurb with commencement beginning next week.

Elsie Morton Skatepark Renewal

The Renewal of the Elsie Morton Skatepark is kicking off in Papakura, Auckland City.

Marton Skatepark Opening

The new Marton Skatepark Redevelopment and Extension opened to the public over the weekend with hoards of locals taking to the facility to give the new terrain a go!

Hayman Park Skatepark Progress

The team have been chipping away at the Hayman Skatepark Renewal.

Good things to come in Marton

Angus McMillan has been making steady progress through the Marton Skatepark Redevelopment that we designed last year.

Hayman Park Skatepark is all go!

Stoked to see the redevelopment of Manukau's Regional Skatepark well underway with demolition and excavation of areas ready for the new slabs and skate features.

Marton Skatepark Construction commencing soon

Local users in the Marton Area will have some new terrain to shred soon.

Halswell Domain Skatepark Completed

The Halswell Domain Skatepark Development in Christchurch has been complete for over a month now with signs of some good use over the Christmas and New Years break.

Halswell Domain Skatepark Coming together

The Halswell Skatepark has been steaming ahead with a number of features installed across the entire environment.

Snells Beach Skatepark Renewal

Snells Beach Skatepark will be getting some new features just in time for Christmas.

Browns Bay Skatepark Extension

The Browns Bay Skatepark will be getting some TLC in the not too distant future with a light polish applied to the existing facility, painting of the vertical faces and a small concrete extension towards the Browns Bay Marine Centre.

Halswell Skatepark Progress

Things are coming together for the Halswell Domain Skatepark Development.

Hayman Park Skatepark Renewal

Hayman Park Skatepark in Manukau City, Auckland is set to get some much needed TLC in the near future with complete resurfacing and additional quarterpipe features.

Wellsford Skatepark Opening Video

Here is some footage from the Wellsford Skatepark Opening, enjoy :)

Wellsford Skatepark Complete! Demo this Friday...

Great to see the completion of the Wellsford Skatepark and integrated Basketball Area in Memorial Park in Wellsford.

Wellsford Skatepark Progress

Beautiful day up in Wellsford yesterday checking out the progress being made on their youth park redevelopment.

Knights Stream Skatepark almost complete

Around a week and a half ago we got down to the Knights Stream Skatepark Development to check out the construction on the facility.

Tokoroa Skatepark Opening Video

Todd Henry has pulled together a cool video of the opening at the Tokoroa Skatepark

Tokoroa Skatepark Opening

Was a blast getting down to Tokoroa over the weekend for the official skatepark opening!

Tokoroa Skatepark Opening this Weekend!

With Tokoroa Skatepark opening this Saturday, you've got two days to get yourselves sorted and come join us!

Tokoroa Skatepark Visit

Here are some photos from my last site visit down to the Tokoroa Skatepark Development set to open at the end of this month.

Knights Stream Skatepark Progress

The Knights Stream Skatepark has been making steady progress with the majority of the flow bowl and skate avenue areas completed.

Wellsford Skatepark Extension

Coming in under the radar the Wellsford Skatepark Extension is set to begin construction next week at the existing skate bowl location in Memorial Park.

Tokoroa Skatepark trucking along

The Tokoroa Skatepark development has been making great progress with the all the good weather.

Resource Consent given for Halswell Domain Skatepark

Resource Consent has been granted for the new skatepark to be developed at Haswell Domain adjacent the Miniature Train building and playground.

Christchurch Skatepark construction kicks off

Construction of the new Knights Stream Skatepark has started that includes a flow bowl and street features.

Clendon Skatepark up for Renewal

Clendon Skatepark is up for renewal!

Birkenhead Skatepark

Click here for some photos taken recently of the Birkenhead Skatepark completed recently.

Stage 2 Waiuku Skatepark Extension commencing soon

Stage 2 of the Waiuku Skatepark Extension is set to commence next week with a number of new features being implemented paid for by the Auckland Council and additional funds raised through the local Lions.

Tokoroa Skatepark construction about to start!

Construction of the new Tokoroa Skatepark in the South Waikato District is set to commence after the official site blessing that was held last week.

Palmerston North Skatepark Redevelopment Complete

The final stage of construction at the Railway Reserve Skatepark in Palmerston North was completed last month just in time for the Christmas and New Year's break.

Kaimai School Skatepark Complete

The Kaimai School Skatepark officially opened yesterday to the delight of the school and local community.

Kaimai School Skatepark gets write up

The Kaimai School Skatepark, under construction along State Highway 29, has featured in the Bay of Plenty Times.

Kaimai School Skatepark Progress

The Kaimai School Skatepark, designed by RICH Landscapes is well underway with a number of features starting to take shape.

Birkenhead Skatepark Completion coming soon

The new Birkenhead Skatepark designed by RICH Landscapes is nearing completion with Contrax Ltd beginning to work there way out of the environment, having completed a number of the main flat slabs through the facility.

Garden Redesign for Residential Property

Working with one of our contractors, we delivered a residential backyard makeover for a client in Browns Bay late last year;

Birkenhead Skatepark Coming Along

Great Progress is being made over at the Birkenhead War Memorial Park Skatepark Renewal designed by RICH Landscapes and being built by Contrax Ltd.

Construction starts on Kaimai School Skatepark

Construction of the new Kaimai School Skatepark designed by RICH Landscapes has taken effect this week to the delight of the school and local users.

Birkenhead Skatepark Progress

The Birkenhead Skatepark Renewal being built by Contrax Ltd is steadily coming along with the majority of earthworks completed with features coming together.

Waiuku Stage 1 Complete

Stage one of the Waiuku Skatepark Extension has been completed with the addition of several features including the wollie round rail and rising quarter with coping extension.

RICH Landscapes Skate Roadie Part 2

Here is the second part to our roadie we went on earlier this year.

Puketawhero Park Skatepark moving forward

The Puketawhero Park Skatepark is getting close to completion with the majority of street elements completed and the mini bowl remaining.

Birkenhead Skatepark Renewal

Lurking in the shadows of Auckland city the Birkenhead Skatepark Renewal has been pushing forward with a large amount of earthworks, drainage and masonary construction completed with the setout of skate features coming together.

RICH Landscapes Skate Roadie

First part of our skate roadie that we went on earlier this year.

Thames Skatepark

The Thames Skatepark has been officially open for over a month now, thanks to everyone who was involved!

Lloyd Elsmore Skatepark Addition

The Lloyd Elsmore Skatepark in East Auckland, a facility installed almost two decades ago is set to get a little revamp with this A-Frame Rail and Ledge feature courtesy of the Local Board.

Rotorua Skatepark Concept Video

We have just released a video of the new Rotorua Skatepark Concept.

Puketawhero Skatepark Progress

Here are some photos taken a few weeks back of the skatepark construction currently happening at Puketawhero Park in Rotorua.

Rotorua Skatepark Renewal and Extension

The Rotorua CBD Skatepark Renewal and Extension Design is out and set to rock waves through the New Zealand landscape.

Work at Pukekohe kicks off

Construction has started at the new Pukekohe Skatepark Site.

Tamahere Skatepark out to tender

The Tamahere Skatepark is currently out to tender for construction.

Stanmore Bay Skatepark Renewal

Construction at Stanmore Bay Skatepark is well underway with the replacement of the timber features and improved Hubba Ledge.

Skatepark construction in Rotorua set to begin soon

Construction of the renewed skatepark at Puketawhero Park in Rotorua is set to commence soon with the implementation of a mini bowl with extension and a number of other street features.

Havelock North Skatepark Opening

The Hastings District Council, Word in the ranks is that the redevelopment of Havelock North Domain is set to open towards the end of March/ start of April.

Shadbolt Skatepark Jam and BBQ

The Shadbolt Skatepark Jam and BBQ went down over the weekend with Aidan Rogers behind the lens.