Tauranga has picked up national recognition for an inner-city play space designed to bring families back into the CBD.

The Bubbles Play Pod, located in Red Square, won the 2026 Playspace of the Year award in the under-$500,000 category at the Recreation Aotearoa Parks Awards.

Tauranga City Council say the project was “intentionally designed” to bring a sense of fun, creativity and discovery into the city centre.

The award celebrated projects that delivered creative, inclusive and accessible play spaces on a modest budget.

The compact play pod transformed a repurposed shipping container into an interactive play area for children.

The structure includes climbing features, balancing elements like slides and sensory experiences aimed at encouraging exploration and play in an urban setting.

Recreation Aotearoa parks play and open spaces programme manager Kieran Smith said the awards highlighted the importance of recreation spaces in supporting community wellbeing.

The Bubbles Play Pod, located in Tauranga's Red Square, won the 2026 Playspace of the Year award in the under-$500,000 category at the Recreation Aotearoa Parks Awards. Photo / Tauranga City Council

“As our cities continue to grow, projects like this show how creative thinking can turn small urban spaces into places where people can connect, play and spend time together,” Smith said.

Judges praised the Bubbles Play Pod as a “small but mighty” project that offered a bold approach to modern playspace design.

Tauranga City Council urban centres programme development lead Kellie Burton said the council was “thrilled” to see the play pod recognised nationally.

“The project was intentionally designed to bring a sense of fun, creativity and discovery into Tauranga city centre, so it’s rewarding to see that approach acknowledged by the sector.”

The council won the same award last year for Matua’s Te Papa Tākaro o Matua, and the Playspace of the Year (over $500,000) award for the Waterfront Playground.

Tauranga City Council’s Bubbles Play Pod won the 2026 Playspace of the Year (within $500,000) award.

“The play pod forms part of a wider strategy to create playful journeys through the city centre, linking the waterfront playground, the Spring St parking building, the bus stops on Durham St and surrounding hospitality and retail areas.”

She said feedback from families, hospitality businesses and the community had been positive since the play pod opened in late 2024.

“Businesses have told us families choose to visit because of its proximity to the play space, while council staff and CCTV observations have shown consistent use by children of all ages.”

Burton said projects like the Bubbles Play Pod were important because they helped create a more vibrant, welcoming and familyfriendly city centre.

“We are heartened that our approach to creating playful, people-focused spaces continues to gain national recognition.”