Mount Maunganui's Phoenix Park has been refurbished into a new urban space.

The park, which is now known as Te Papa o Nga Manu Porotakataka, was designed to encourage social interaction and to act as a place where people can rest and play.

A Tauranga City Council representative says the area is now open to the public after being fenced off since January to build a water feature and additional grass.

'Te Papa o Ngā Manu Porotakataka was opened to the public on Friday, 1 March including the water feature.

'There will be more trees planted later in the year and minor refurbishments to the toilet block.”

The new urban space features native trees planted on site, to provide shade in the future.

The completion of Te Papa o Nga Manu Porotakataka will serve as a popular venue for events, in particular the weekly farmers market on Sunday mornings.