Auckland’s Heard Park has emerged from a major transformation—one that blends nostalgia, cultural storytelling, and smart project delivery. Conceived by Bespoke Landscape Architects and expertly constructed and project managed by GreensceneNZ Landscapes for Auckland Council, the redesigned park offers a fresh community hub that remains firmly rooted in its colourful past.
The brief centred on refreshing Heard Park to create a vibrant, well-used community space that reflects the identity and heritage of Parnell. The Parnell Business Association championed the project, seeking a more inviting Parnell Road frontage and a park that tells the story of the Heard family—founders of Heard’s Confectionary.
Operating nearby from 1921 to 1975, the Heard family gifted the land for the park in 1953. Their legacy is celebrated through a playful new playground featuring oversized lollipops, barley sugar twists, and lifesavers—a modern, colourful interpretation of confectionary nostalgia.
To enrich the cultural narrative further, Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei designers were engaged to incorporate motifs into the park. These subtle patterns emerge under certain sun and moonlight angles, adding texture, depth, and a gentle sense of discovery.
GreensceneNZ Landscapes played a pivotal role in turning the design vision into reality while keeping the project tightly aligned with Council budget requirements. With extensive experience in public-works landscape construction, the team applied practical innovation at every stage.
A notable example was the development of an on-site seating construction methodology. Traditionally, these elements would be fabricated offsite, involving higher manufacturing and transport costs. By engineering a system that allowed for efficient, high-quality construction directly in the park, GreensceneNZ Landscapes delivered substantial savings—money that could be reinvested elsewhere in the project.
The team also provided creative problem-solving during the planning and sign-off phases, identifying engineering efficiencies and material reuse opportunities to ensure long-term durability without compromising design intent.
Transforming a popular urban green space while keeping it accessible and functional required detailed planning and nimble execution. One major challenge was the reuse of concrete pavers dating back to the 1980s and ’90s. Rather than discarding them, GreensceneNZ Landscapes meticulously lifted, assessed, and integrated them into the modern design reducing waste, conserving materials, and preserving elements of the park’s history.
Maintaining access to public toilets, a defibrillator, and the adjoining playcentre was essential. The team staged works to keep the community connected while minimising disruption to businesses along busy Parnell Road. Regular communication with the Parnell Business Association ensured stakeholders stayed informed and concerns were addressed promptly.
The completed Heard Park is a true collaboration—between Auckland Council, Bespoke Landscape Architects, the Parnell Business Association, Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei, and the skilled team at GreensceneNZ Landscapes.
At minimal cost to ratepayers, the project has delivered an inviting, distinctive, and highly functional public space. It stands as both a celebration of the area’s sweet heritage and an engaging urban park designed for today’s community.
Vibrant, welcoming, and rich with character, the new Heard Park shows how thoughtful design and smart construction can breathe fresh life into a cherished local landmark.
