The first in a network of skate parks throughout Liverpool has been officially opened this week.
The Mayor of Liverpool, Joe Anderson, opened the park in Scargreen Recreation Ground, Norris Green in a ceremony which featured a spectacular display of BMX and scooter riding.
The new park is part of the £1.5m capital funding allocated for schemes for young people.
A three month consultation took place with more than 1,000 young people to ensure the right facilities were built in preferred locations. The results of the consultation showed they want the sites to be multi-purpose -suitable for skates, skateboards, scooters and BMX bikes and be suitable for all abilities from beginners to advanced.
Young people in Norris Green, who have lobbied for a skate park in the area identified the site at Scargreen as a suitable location. It will breathe new life into a underused multi-use games area.
The skate park has state of art ramps and slides, provided at a cost of £65,000 by Eibe Play Limited. This is adding to the investment in a play area, picnic tables which ,along with astroturf pitches, have created a community space that residents in the area have been waiting for.
At the launch event Team Extreme, the UK’s top extreme specialist show team staged a demonstration featuring Liverpool-based BMX rider Leon Perkins, who competes across Europe, and 16-year-old scooter rider Ryan Ferguson,( one of the top riders in the UK.
They also held a workshop and further workshops will be staged throughout the summer being funded by Norris Green councillors and MYA via Unite 4 Sport.
Mayor Anderson said: “This is the first of the skate parks which we are going to build, in the city. It is the young people who have told us that this is what they want and they have really driven this scheme.
“Not only have they helped identify the sites but they have also been leading on what should be on those sites and who should be able to use them
“In Norris Green, young people asked us to put a skate park at Scargreen and I am delighted we have been able to do so. Not only will anybody be able to use it for free but we also going to stage workshops to help them.
“It is going to be great that young people are going to be taking part in all the activities – and while I’d like to join in, this is going to be very much a spectator sport for me!”
Local Councillor Barry Kushner said: “This investment by the Mayor is turning Scargreen Park into an exciting recreational area for young people and the local community to play and relax, and is evidence of how Norris Green is developing.”
• Sites for skate parks at Everton Park; Newsham Park; Dingle Bank and Otterspool have been identified, and subject to planning permission, will be built there.
