Idle skate park in £100,000 revamp (From Bradford Telegraph and Argus)

Idle skate park in £100,000 revamp

11:00am Tuesday 21st August 2012 in News

Work is to start next week on a £100,000 project to refurbish a well-used skate park for teenagers in Idle , Bradford.

It will involve removing the existing skate park at Idle Recreation Ground and the construction of new concrete facilities and an access path.

The equipment will be suitable for skateboarders, inline skaters, micro-scooters and BMX bikes.

The design has been developed in conjunction with young people who use the site and consultation also took place with local school children.

Work on the new facilities is scheduled to last six weeks.

Councillor Andrew Thornton , Bradford Council’s executive member responsible for sport and leisure, said: “This project will provide a vital community space in Idle that will encourage young people to be active.”

Work began on the original skate park in 2006 after teenagers Dean Harrison and Josh Arnold contacted the Council calling for facilities for skateboarders in Idle.

The £53,000 park was the largest concrete skate park in the district. It was designed with the help of young people through the BD10 Youth Partnership, which was chaired by ward Councillor Jeanette Sunderland .

Coun Sunderland, Liberal Democrat group leader, said the Youth Partnership and ward councillors had been involved again this time.

“It’s a really well-used facility. The young people asked for an extension to make it more difficult and more complex and we are happy that we are able to provide that for them.” she said.

Wheelscape will carry out the work on behalf of the Council, with funding coming from completed local developments where money was put aside for recreation schemes. The existing skate park was also funded in this way. The site will first be prepared before formers and bars are set out to shape the material and the concrete is sprayed in place. The surface is then hand finished to give a smooth, durable polished surface.