Not enough skate parks say boarders

Petition Power

In recent years, the large and influential skateboarding and BMX communities in South Wales have been turning their people power to good use, actively campaigning for more skateboarding facilities in their areas. Here are just a few:

Bay Barrage: A successful petition for a new outdoor park in Cardiff Bay led to the birth of the newest Cardiff skate park. The petitioners’ enthusiasm for the project also led them to act as consultants on the design of the park.

Newport Skate Park : Meanwhile Newport Skateboarders spent the summer petitioning to keep their existing skate park, which had been earmarked for demolition for the further development of football facilities. In October, a decision was taking by the local council to relocate the park.

Max’s Indoor Skate Park Petition on Facebook: This petition has been set up in response to a series of indoor skate park closures in the South Wales area. Max’s petition is hoping to repeat the successes of the Bay project and secure an indoor skate park in Cardiff.

DIY skate parks are popular because there aren’t enough official facilities, enthusiasts claim.

: The remains of A DIY skate park in Cardiff

DIY skate parks continue to be built throughout Cardiff, despite recent investments in outdoor facilities.

Just last week a DIY park appeared near Mermaid Quay, fifteen minutes away from the council’s Bay Barrage development. Costing £140,000 to design, develop and build, the development remains popular with skaters but has not prevented calls for more skate board friendly areas.

John Burnicle, of Prolineskates shop in Cardiff, says it is simply a matter of there not being enough skate parks to meet the demands of skaters. “These kids are not just playing, they’re doing serious tricks. The kids are buying skate products but there’s nowhere for them to go.”

Cardiff council currently maintains thirteen outdoor skate and BMX parks for public use.

Petition Power

Bay Barrage: A successful petition for a new outdoor park in Cardiff Bay led to the birth of the newest Cardiff skate park. The petitioners’ enthusiasm for the project also led them to act as consultants on the design of the park.

Newport Skate Park : Meanwhile Newport Skateboarders spent the summer petitioning to keep their existing skate park, which had been earmarked for demolition for the further development of football facilities. In October, a decision was taking by the local council to relocate the park.

Max’s Indoor Skate Park Petition on Facebook: This petition has been set up in response to a series of indoor skate park closures in the South Wales area. Max’s petition is hoping to repeat the successes of the Bay project and secure an indoor skate park in Cardiff.

skate boards, Skateboarding

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