Project overview
With the ever-expanding population in Pāpāmoa, we’re continuing to add and upgrade amenities and environments for everyone to enjoy. Currently, Gordon Spratt Reserve is the only active reserve in Pāpāmoa. Given the population growth in the area, combined with an increased demand for community sports facilities, we’re planning some upgrades and improvements to better meet community needs and to ensure more resilient facilities and grounds.
Why it’s an important reserve
Gordon Spratt Reserve features facilities for cricket, athletics, football, league, tennis, netball, baseball, bowls, rugby and touch rugby. It’s home to the Pāpāmoa Sport and Recreation Centre, a specially built vertical tsunami evacuation structure, a skatepark and pump track. It’s also a popular destination for cycling and walking. The Alice Johnson Oval sits directly adjacent to Gordon Spratt Reserve.
Reserve enhancements will be staged over several years to help make sure the community and sports groups can continue to use the reserve.
The purpose for investing in Gordon Spratt Reserve improvements is to increase the quality of community sports facilities, help increase the level of member satisfaction, strengthen existing community sports clubs and to ensure easier operation of these clubs.
Features of the reserve
Gordon Spratt Reserve skatepark
Pāpāmoa is the proud home of the revamped Gordon Spratt Reserve skatepark, which includes a range of quarter pipe and street style features such as a manual pad, a street hip, a euro gap, A-frame ramp, stairs, ledges and rails. Lighting enables the use of the park when night falls.
Check out more details about the Gordon Spratt Reserve skatepark and other citywide skate facilities.
Alice Johnson Oval
The Alice Johnson Oval was gifted to Council for recreation purposes in 1982. Thanks to the support of the L S Johnson Estate and Trust, a dedicated cricket oval was created and is now home to the Pāpāmoa Cricket Club.
Construction of a new, shared pavilion on the Alice Johnson Oval was completed in December 2024, completed in time for the 2024/2025 summer season. While the pavilion will primarily serve the local cricket and football community, it’s anticipated this will become a shared space for other members of the Gordon Spratt reserve sporting community.
Pāpāmoa Sport and Recreation Centre
The Pāpāmoa Sports and Recreation Centre is a multi-purpose community and sporting venue operated by Bay Venues, the kaitiaki of community facilities in Tauranga Moana.
For more information visit Papamoa Sports & Recreation Centre.
Tsunami Vertical Evacuation Structure
Gordon Spratt Reserve is home to a specially built evacuation area where people can gather safely above the highest predicted level of tsunami flood water. Opened in 2018, the Vertical Evacuation Structure is a first for New Zealand and has the capacity for around 3,500 people to stand on. The structure is built to withstand the shaking and liquefaction effects of an earthquake and the scouring effects of tsunami flooding.
Gordon Spratt Tsunami evacuation (2.8mb pdf)
Upgrades and new additions
Many new additions and upgrades have been undertaken at the reserve. These include a new netball shelter, a new toilet, changing rooms and storage building, improved security, redeveloped playing fields, formalised car parking and environmental improvements.
Across the reserve, the redeveloped skatepark has been completed, public courts have been resurfaced and a new toilet block and seating have recently been installed. Other features being added include new lighting, a pathway in and around the skate park, more seating, more rubbish bins, bike racks and shade sails.
Looking ahead, there will be further updates in the coming years, including new facilities and sport fields upgrades.