In South Invercargill, a network of walkways is slowly being reshaped by the people who know it best - the community who use it every day.

This initiative is a partnership between South Alive, Healthy Families Invercargill, Invercargill City Council, and South Invercargill residents.

Running from Tweed St through to Elizabeth Park, these walkways are more than a shortcut. They are places where kids ride bikes, whānau go for walks and tamariki make their way to and from school. Like many shared spaces, the walkways are well used and need ongoing care, with clear potential to become even more welcoming for everyone.

The South Invercargill Walkways project began with South Alive Development and Operations Manager Courtney Ellison, who heard from the community that the walkways could benefit from some care, particularly around litter and graffiti. South Alive volunteers responded by stepping in to clean up the space and support its upkeep.

Healthy Families Invercargill then joined the project, with Active Transport Innovator Laura Dowling and Play Innovator Megan Dawson exploring how the walkways could better support play, movement, and everyday active journeys.

For Laura, the initiative’s focus is on creating a space that supports both safety and enjoyment.

“If we can make people who use the walkways day-to-day journey more active or playful or help people feel safe getting from A to B, that is what we hope to do,” she said.

South Alive's discussion with Invercargill City Council's Park and Recreation team revealed that the walkways already had Te Reo Māori bird names assigned to them. This became the starting point for the first visible change in the space - the introduction of stencil designs featuring the names of each block of the walkways.

Active Transport Innovator Laura worked on developing the stencil cutouts for the Te Reo Māori bird names, working through accurate translations of the bird species with the Department of Conservation, and partnered with Creation Signs to bring them to life.

South Alive volunteers repainted walkway entrances in preparation for the name stencils which were then sprayed on. The stencil additions are an early step in strengthening identity and creativity along the walkways.

Last month, a Walkways Party created space for community to voice their opinions about the walkways. A total of 31 people completed the survey on the day. Children who attended the Walkways Party could share their thoughts and ideas by drawing on butcher's paper.

The results showed that the walkways are already well used, with many people visiting several times to walk, bike, and spend time with whānau. There was also strong feedback about making the space more vibrant, particularly through games or ground markings and colour or art, alongside practical improvements. More than half of respondents said they would be willing to volunteer, showing strong community ownership and a willingness to be involved in shaping the space.

The next phase will be guided by community ideas which were shared through the walkways party, with ongoing aspirations to make these spaces feel more welcoming, active, and connected to the community. “We hope that people return and see their input reflected in the space, and that they feel they have contributed and can take ownership and pride in these walkways,” Laura said.

Article added: Friday 17 April 2026