Around 80 people gathered outside a beloved slide in Dunedin this afternoon after city councillors voted to partially remove the structure, drawing passionate protests and sharp criticism from community members.
Decades of History Meet Safety Concerns at Marlow Park
The dinosaur slide at Marlow Park, widely known as Dinosaur Park in St Kilda, has served as a popular playground feature and well-known local landmark since 1969. Earlier this year, public concern over its future generated significant interest, with a single Dunedin City Council post drawing more than 800 comments on social media as residents urged the city to retain the structure, according to 1news.
Despite the public campaign, the slide’s age and condition prompted safety worries for the council. Following a public consultation period, a majority of councillors voted during a Thursday meeting to approve updated redevelopment proposals that replace the existing slide with a modernized, more accessible version.
Protesters Rally as Council Members Criticize the Vote
The demonstration brought residents and children together to voice their opposition to the decision. Among the participants was five-year-old Mason Schumacher, who held a sign reading Hands Off Our Dinosaur
.
I am sad the slide will be taken away… I like it here and it is just so fun for me.
Mason Schumacher
Another child at the protest told 1News that he wanted to Restore the roar
. A local resident who introduced himself as Gene suggested to the assembled crowd that the decision should be put to a public referendum so ratepayers could decide the outcome.
Jo Galer, one of the councillors who voted against removing the slide, attended the protest and shared her reaction to the outcome.
I had a real lump in my throat after that debate the other day
Jo Galer, Dunedin City Councillor
What the Redevelopment Plan Entails
Rather than complete demolition, the council’s approved plan preserves the head and neck of the current dinosaur structure. Technicians will 3D scan, reconstruct, and relocate the remaining pieces to a sloped bank area, integrating them into a new slide zone accessed via a deck and ramp.
The wider Marlow Park upgrade incorporates an extensive list of new features. According to the city council, the site will feature a new 11.5-metre whale structure equipped with an internal play space, slide, and climbing nets, alongside a six-metre waka. Additional planned additions include flying foxes, a large climbing tower with platforms, slides, and tunnels, a multi-play structure with monkey bars and climbing elements, an inclusive carousel, swings, racing slides, an accessible slide, water and sand play areas, and a nature play space.
The existing playground will remain open until late January before major construction gets underway, though certain areas may experience closures ahead of time for preparatory work. The complete redevelopment project is expected to reach completion by June 2027.
