Riddiford Garden

Spread over 3.2 hectares near Lower Hutt’s CBD, Riddiford Garden is the green heart of this bustling city that forms part of the greater Wellington metropolitan area.

One of the oldest horticultural parks in Lower Hutt, Riddiford Garden was established in 1923. Almost a century later, the park has undergone a major upgrade as part of the wider revitalisation of the city’s civic precinct.

The Garden’s upgrade has dramatically enhanced the facilities and amenities available to the city’s residents and visitors, which now include a multi-function events centre, sunken lawn/informal amphitheatre, skateboard area, basketball court, and re-vamped playground.

A number of BBQ areas were also established as part of the upgrade to enable families, friends and community groups to socialise and celebrate milestones.

Urban Effects worked with project partners to supply a smart commercial barbeque solution: an energy-efficient, user-friendly, versatile and safe cooking plate that could be installed into their custom-made benches. The electric Urban Inbench Cooking Plate features innovative heatcell technology to provide excellent heat capture and control, and a better overall cooking experience.

A stylish rectangular Fuente Drinking Fountain with decorative drain grille was also  installed as part of the BBQ area to provide easy access to clean, fresh water to quench visitors’ thirst, wash their hands or help clean up after a BBQ.