Central Park youth park

Where is the park?

The park has been built next to the swimming pool and close to the Milehouse junction and was opened for public use in summer 2004. View location map of the youth park.

The youth park has been designed by Blakedown Leisure Ltd and it includes:

• an outdoor concrete skate park
• a ball sports wall
• a performance area
• a seating area

How have young people been involved?

Park users have been involved in all aspects of developing the youth park project. Young people from a number of schools and youth groups in Plymouth took part in a series of workshops to explore what facilities they wanted to see in the park. The Plymouth Ramp Sports Forum helped the Council to secure the grant funding for the project. They have also worked closely with the park designers to ensure that the design meets their needs. This close relationship continued during the construction phase of the project with Plymouth Ramp Sports Forum representatives having regular progress meetings with the park construction team.

How was the park funded?

The £160,000 cost of the park is was funded by:

• £100,000 grant from Sport England, under the Green Spaces and Sustainable Communities Programme funded by the New Opportunities Fund (National Lottery).
• £60,000 Plymouth City Council contribution.
• Young people also raised money towards the project through a sponsored skate marathon.

Plymouth Ramp Sports Forum

Plymouth Ramp Sports Forum is a skater-led group, which meets approximately every other month to raise the profile of skating in the city and campaign for better ramp sports facilities.

How has the Ramp Forum been involved in the Central Park youth park project?

• A skate park marathon was organised by the Forum last year to raise money towards better skating facilities in the city, including the youth park. The participants raised over £1,000!
• The Forum helped the Council to undertake a questionnaire survey of 175 skateboarders in the city. The skate park designers used this information to help them design their scheme.
• Ramp Forum members helped to put the successful funding bid together.
• Ramp Forum members worked alongside the Council and the skate park designers to ensure that the park met the needs of Plymouth skaters.
• Ramp Forum members closely monitored the construction work.
• Ramp Forum members were involved in designing graffiti art that was incorporated into the design of the park.
• Ramp Forum members organised the opening celebrations.
• Ramp Forum members now help to manage the park.

How can I get involved in the Ramp Forum?

Anyone with an interest in skateboarding, in-line skating or BMX'ing is welcome to join the Forum, including those that don't actually participate in the sports.

If you want to join the Forum, email rampforum@plymouth.gov.uk with your name and postal address. We will keep you up to date with our work and let you know when meetings are to take place.

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