Help shape plans for new skate park

Young people and visitors to Central Park are being asked to comment on the location of a new skate park for the area.

The current skate park near Milehouse Corner will close at the end of November to make way for the new Life Centre, Plymouth’s biggest ever investment in sport and leisure facilities.

Plymouth City Council has ring-fenced £180,000 in funding to replace the skate park with a bigger, better facility nearby and wants skaters, skateboarders, stunt riders and people who visit Central Park to share their views on its proposed new location.

The Council plans to build the new skate park on land to the west of Central Park Leisure Pools, which shares many of the benefits enjoyed by the current site – it is relatively flat, has parking nearby, is not close to housing and is in a visible location with good surveillance and easy emergency access.

An exhibition is being held in the foyer of Central Park Leisure Pools from Wednesday 11 to Wednesday 18 November, where people will be able to view a plan outlining the site that is currently being considered. A comments box will be available and Council officers will be at the exhibition to answer questions on Wednesday 11 November from 5 to 6pm and on Tuesday 17 November from midday to 1pm.

You can also send your comments and ideas in writing to: Catherine Dilloway, Project Services Team, Civic Centre (Floor 13), Plymouth City Council, Plymouth PL1 2AA or by email to: catherine.dilloway@plymouth.gov.uk. Comments must be received by Monday 23 November.

When the site has been agreed early next year, the Council will employ a team of specialist designers who will work with park users to develop detailed plans for the new skate park, which is expected to open in the summer of 2010.

In the meantime the Council is working with Prime Delux Skateboarding Shop on plans it has to open a not-for-profit indoor skating facility in Cattedown, which would provide a safe, weatherproof facility that would help meet the gap in provision before the new skate park opens.

Planning permission has been granted for the facility and a funding application has been submitted to the Council’s Youth Capital Fund for materials to build the ramp and health and safety training. The application is being considered by a panel of young people and a decision is expected in mid-November.

There are two other skate ramps in Chaddlewood and Peacock Meadow, both in Plympton, and the youth service also has a mobile ramp which it hopes to make available to skaters.

The Council’s arts development unit and youth service are working with skaters and riders on an art project commemorating the closing of the current skate park and celebrating their ambitions for the new facility.  The ‘Souvenir’ project is being run in collaboration with local design studio Intercity and renowned artist James Jarvis, who has been commissioned to create a piece of large-scale artwork using the current Central Park skate park as a blank canvas.

James will paint illustrative designs on the skate park, focusing on key feature areas such as the skate ‘bowl’ and working in sections so that the skate park can be kept open. The skate bowl will then be carefully deconstructed and pieces will preserved by students at the Plymouth College of Art, who will combine them with glass to create ‘souvenirs’ of the park. Two of these mementos will be put on public display at the Civic Centre and in the new Life Centre when it opens and others will be presented to young people who have a strong connection with the skate park.

Councillor Glenn Jordan, Cabinet Member for Healthy Communities and Leisure, said: "Since opening in 2004, the skate park has been hugely popular with young people but there are elements of the scheme that skaters have said they wanted to improve. They have a great opportunity now with the opening of the Life Centre to help shape plans for what could be one of the best skate parks in the country.”

29 October 2009