Park visitors shape design in interactive consultation

Context

The Bodle Drive area at Riversdale Beach was identified as a high-priority project within the Riversdale Beach Community Plan (2024-2034). The goal was to develop proposed improvements aligning with the local character while addressing community needs. Xyst, a leading NZ-based landscape planning firm and PlaceChangers partner in New Zealand, initiated a public consultation process on behalf of Masterton District Council to gather feedback on the draft concept plan. The consultation was open from January 8th to February 28th, 2025, allowing the local community to contribute their insights and preferences.

Consultation Approach

To ensure maximum community engagement, the consultation process was designed to be interactive and accessible, with easy access on mobile devices and in-street engagement. The process generated a brief walkthrough tour of key design changes, including relevant visuals and descriptions to explain those changes in the context of the overall site. Participants could give feedback on specific design changes by commenting on aspects they felt interested in. Xyst also invited participants to tell how often they visit the park and any general comments for final design proposals.  

Xyst arranged promotion included:

• A QR code option for easy access
• Signage at the site
• Publication on the local authority website
• Letters sent to nearby households

The PlaceChangers platform enabled respondents to view proposed changes and provide comments directly on an interactive map. Key elements of the consultation included proposed improvements such as enhanced pedestrian pathways, accessible parking, new picnic tables, and improved signage.

Key Outcomes

The consultation resulted in 52 respondents contributing 246 responses across various proposed changes. Participants found the digital format convenient, allowing them to provide feedback from anywhere.

Participants provided clear input on the teams' design direction. They strongly supported coloured concrete pedestrian walkways to improve accessibility and visual clarity and expressed interest in accessible parking improvements to enhance inclusivity. Sheltered picnic areas with BBQs were widely supported, with many advocating for their relocation near playgrounds. 

The Bodle Drive consultation demonstrated how PlaceChangers can enable design-focused public engagement to invite valuable, actionable insights. The project reinforced the value of digital-first consultation tools in ensuring transparent and inclusive decision-making for local authorities. In future consultations, Xyst plans to let respondents see each other's responses to enable additional transparency and peer review.