Parks, open spaces and the public realm

This section provides best practice guidance for our parks, spaces and public realm so that they can support the mental and physical health of our communities by providing places for activities, recreation, interaction and connection. 

City centre

View from the 2nd floor walk up over the North wharf walkway, fountain and basket ball court
View from the 3rd floor building in queen st overlooking the shared path, where a person is riding a scooter and people are walking.

The public realm is defined as the spaces that are accessible and useable by people travelling on foot, experiencing a place from a pedestrian perspective. For the purposes of this document the public realm includes:

• Footpaths along streets

• Shared spaces

• Pedestrian only laneways

• Pedestrian through site links

• Squares, plazas and public open spaces.

The public realm is generally on publicly owned land but can also be on privately owned land where the landowner has afforded the public with pedestrian access. The footpaths, shared spaces and pedestrian laneways located within Auckland Transport’s road network constitutes approximately 50% of the public realm in the city centre