Latest news with #skatepark
Yahoo
13 hours ago
- General
- Yahoo
New skatepark set to complete decade-long revamp of park
A ten-year campaign to revamp the dated and dilapidated equipment in a Pembrokeshire park is reaching its final stages with the announcement that a new skatepark will soon be installed. The Lota Project has been working steadfastly since 2015, to completely overhaul Fishguard's Lota Park in stages. The group has replaced dilapidated and obsolete equipment and created a modern and inclusive play facility. This has been made possible due to a mixture of fundraising, donations from groups, individuals, the town council and support from Pembrokeshire County Council and the Welsh Government. Funding has been used to buy new swings, a wheelchair inclusive roundabout, a new-style witch's hat and an arm rotator roundabout, a small basketball area and a teqball. Other additions to the park have been a zipline, a large round swing, a gravity bowl, two new multi play installations, a new sea saw and springers. A new skatepark to replace the one that was removed more than a decade ago has always been part of the plan. Back in 2015 group member Cllr Pat Davies said that youngsters were using their scooters and skateboards in car parks, or having to travel to skate parks in Haverfordwest, Newport or Cardigan. 'If we can get the one back in Lota Park the children can be safe in their own community,' she said. Since 2021 has been the primary objective of the Lota Project group. This week the group announced that, after years of fundraising, a new skate park will be installed next month. Among its features will be a ledge, a quarter pipe and two fun box combinations which include a flat wedge and a grind rail. 'When we started this group quite a few years ago - you told us that the park needed a complete refurbish with inclusive play equipment for all ages, and a skate park on the footprint of the previous one,' said the Lota Project's Tracey Cullen Johnson. 'We had achieved everything we set out to do, except the skate park. 'After lots and lots of red tape, disappointments and hard work. We are really pleased to announce that Lota Park will finally get a new skate park. Installation will begin on July 7 2025.' Tracey added that the group's core members; herself, Cllr Pat Davies, Natalie Morgan-Davies and Rebecca LeFevre will be stepping down from the Lota Project after the installation is complete. Anyone who would like to continue with any further improvements to the park is welcome to continue the hard work. 'Thank you all for your support,' she added.
BBC News
3 days ago
- Politics
- BBC News
Deputies asked to back plans for temporary youth facility
Land earmarked for a new primary school in Jersey could be temporarily used for youth facilities including a skatepark and climbing wall if a proposal is backed by David Warr lodged the proposal for "meanwhile" use of the Gas Place site while plans to use it to build a new primary school are said it was "extraordinary" that due to other sites closing the 5,000 local children would not have a place for indoor activities by the end of about plans to build a school on the site, Deputy Rob Ward, Minister for Education and Lifelong Learning, said "I think it's just time to get on with it." 'It angers me' In his proposal, Warr highlighted the closure of youth facilities at Fort Regent for three years, Tamba Park, Amaizin Maze and the town Skate Park. "By the end of 2025 there will be absolutely no free in-door provision in St Helier for 5,000 children."It's quite extraordinary and it angers me to think that this is being allowed to happen."An in-door skate facility combined with other activities such as a climbing wall, a tarmac pump track on Gas Place wasteland could be used by skaters, bikers and wheelchairs plus it's on the doorstep of most of the island's secondary schools." 'Waste of resources' Warr said: "The health and wellbeing of our teenage population which is already problematic post COVID, is being compromised... it affects all of us."Not using this brownfield site now whilst further plans are developed is an incredible waste of resources. "We must do all we can to prevent poor health and wellbeing outcomes rather than waiting three years for them to surface. Surely that is a major policy choice."He added: "I believe that it will be possible to raise sufficient funds through a combination of charitable donations, sponsorship and goodwill." Constable Simon Crowcroft has called for the decision to build a school on the site to be reconsidered due to decreasing birth rates and a lack of open spaces in St for Education and Lifelong Learning, Deputy Rob Ward, said the plans for the school would already be in place if it was not for "constant delay". "We've been through the discussions before," he said."The assembly has voted repeatedly to support the school."What we do have to understand is that the new school will be a replacement for what are buildings that we really don't want out children to be educated in, with a lack of space and green space."I think it's just time to get on with it."The earliest date Warr's proposal could be debated is 8 July.
CTV News
4 days ago
- Sport
- CTV News
‘I'm devastated': Calgary skaters react to partial closure of downtown park for Stampede festival
The skate park at Cowboys Park will be closed to accommodate events during the Calgary Stampede. Fencing is up around the old Shaw Millennium Park, now known as Cowboys Park, as staff gear up for the Calgary Stampede and Cowboys Music Festival. But the fencing has shuttered part of the skate park, in a move never done before when the space held festivals. 'I'm devastated. Honestly, seeing this, I felt like crying. It felt like I was being stabbed in the heart,' said local scooter rider Axe. 'The moment we do have the peak of the summer, they're just going to cover up the skate park and now we can't ride.' By covering up, staff have begun assembling scaffolding in the bowl of the Yellow Zone of the park, which is an intermediate section. The scaffolding will then have a wooden base assembled over top to create a floor space for public washrooms and a food venue. 'We definitely heard a lot of complaints through our office and social media as well,' said Ward 7 Councillor Terry Wong. 'The unfortunate part of the equation is, yet again, the city has done their job. Now it's been turned over to Cowboys as part of their commitment.' Wong adds that the closure is for 50 days and there is no plan to try and reverse course. 'I'm not sure if you can,' said Wong. 'Given the timeframe when it was approved a year ago to where we are now, there's a lot of fast-tracking. And unfortunately, some of the engagements should have been done and wasn't quite there.' A petition started to 'Urge Cowboys Music Festival to Free Millennium Park's Skatepark' has garnered nearly 3,000 signatures in just a couple of days. Organizer Dave Hoare says this has frustrated a lot of inner-city riders who are about to hit peak summer season. 'It's the most utilized space in the park, right, the intermediate section, it's kind of a balance between where the pros can ride, where the beginners can ride,' said Hoare. 'It's kind of the most inclusive area in the park where all the features are pretty accessible to everyone.' Hoare hopes to see a change of course this year, but more importantly for him, in the years to come. 'It's completely outrageous. We don't have washroom access. We don't have access to the water fountains,' he said. 'I moved downtown here at the beginning of the year so I could be close to the park. I live three blocks from here; this is my backyard.' The city chipped in roughly $6 million for repairs to bathrooms, lighting, event areas, as well as basketball and volleyball courts. It's unclear what Penny Lane Entertainment provided in terms of funding for upgrades to the park. Portions of the skatepark will be closed until July 30. The city of Calgary says in a statement that construction at Cowboys Park is on pause for the summer to make room for events that include Cowboys Music Festival. 'Specifically for the skate park, the advanced bowls will remain open, but the beginner and intermediate bowls will be closed,' the statement read. Full details on what is open and closed at Cowboys Park are available on the City of Calgary's website and on signage distributed around the park. 'The closure of the beginner and intermediate skate bowls in Cowboys Park were required as part of the Cowboys Music Festival event plan,' read the statement. 'The agreement (approved by council in June 2023), brings needed upgrades to the park and is a key step in implementing the city's downtown strategy to bring vibrancy to Calgary's downtown west area by creating additional activation of park spaces and drive further economic activity in the area.'
News.com.au
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- News.com.au
WA grandpa Gavin's crazy skills at Mandurah skate park goes viral
A grandpa showing off his crazy skills on a mobility scooter at a skate park has gone viral on social media Gavin, 52, was filmed pulling doughnuts and wheelies on his mobility scooter at the Mandurah skate park, about 70km south of Perth. The Western Australian grandpa can be seen wearing a grey beanie, jeans and a long grey beard riding through the park on his scooter with others who are there. @the_harrington_sisters Who's gramps is this? We love this guy!! 😅 #mandurah #grampa #gopher #everythingmandurah #skatepark ♬ sonido original - Melómano The footage taken by the @HarringtonSisters has been viewed more than 750,000 times on TikTok. 'Grandpa: Hold my beer,' the sisters shared. 'It's never a dull moment at Mandurah skate park and we're here for it. 'Who's gramps is this? We love this guy!' Gavin told Youth Jam Online he was touched by the reaction and was happy the footage brought happiness to so many people. 'The amount of people it's touched and just put smiles on their faces and got people talking about positive things again,' he said. 'Mate, I couldn't ask any more than that, that's why I did it.' The video showcasing the 'Mandurah legend' has received thousands of reactions on social media with people loving the 'skate park boss.' 'We need more of this kids interacting with elderly love it,' one person said. 'This is my neighbour, he's actually the best,' a person commented. 'Never ever have I seen anyone do that in my country. You guys seem to have all the awesome people doing crazy things. Brilliant,' another person said. 'That's my spirit animal,' a person commented.
CBC
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- CBC
Fuming skateboarders fenced out of popular Cowboys Park for music festival
Social Sharing Local skateboarders are in a tailspin after finding fencing and scaffolding are blocking their access to a beloved skatepark in downtown Calgary. The skatepark at Cowboys Park is temporarily off-limits to accommodate the long-running Cowboys Music Festival, which is scheduled for next month. The popular local space is Canada's largest outdoor skatepark, according to the city. The advanced skatepark bowls will remain open in the meantime, but the city's website said the beginner and intermediate bowls will be closed until at least July 30. "It's a very short riding season, so to do this is just completely outrageous and unacceptable," said Calgary skateboarder and BMX rider David Hoare. "It's a public park. It's a skate park … it's not a venue for drinking." Skatepark users flipping out over Cowboys Park fencing 1 day ago Duration 1:15 Skateboarders and bikers in Calgary are frustrated after finding out a beloved local hub is closed for a big chunk of their season. Some of Cowboys Park is currently fenced off as crews set up for the Cowboys Music Festival. The central park space and basketball courts at Cowboys Park are also closed. A statement from the city to CBC News all amenities will reopen after July 30. The Cowboys Music Festival will be held during the Calgary Stampede, from July 3 to 13. This year's lineup includes popular artists like Macklemore, Thomas Rhett, and Akon. Hoare launched an online petition aimed at pressuring the music festival to clear off the skatepark, which more than 1,800 people have signed as of Saturday. "There's definitely a big community of both skateboarding, bikes, scooters that frequent the park," he said. "It's well-utilized, for sure." There are no other skateparks in the downtown core, Hoare said, and a limited number of other spots in Calgary where skaters can go instead. Closure a 'punch to the heart' The temporary closure "threw a wrench" in Ninetimes Skateshop's plans for its annual Go Skateboarding Day event on June 21. Jasper Westbury, who works at the Beltline store, said organizers are still looking for another location. "It would have been nice if they considered Calgary skateboarding and skateboarders as stakeholders in this situation," he said. "A direct heads up — that even would have been sick. Like we would have appreciated that." Skateboarder Meghana Iyer said finding access to the park restricted felt like a "punch to the heart." "This is a very, very special place," she said. "It seems counterintuitive to set all of this up and let people just party here." Iyer doesn't have a car and said travelling to other top-quality skate parks would be difficult or time-consuming. Gerhard Wilczek has been skateboarding at the park since it opened in 2000. He tries to skate at the park once or twice per week, and was caught by surprise when the temporary closure took effect. "Unfortunately, I'll have to get in the car and drive somewhere to go skateboarding, whereas here I can just ride my bike or walk over," he said. "You've got to get out and enjoy it before the fall and winter get here. So July is going to be tough having to find other spots." Previously known as Shaw Millennium Park, the space was renamed Cowboys Park after the city inked a 10-year naming and sponsorship deal with the owner of Cowboys Dance Hall and Cowboys Music Festival, Penny Lane Entertainment. Using the cash from the sponsorship agreement, the city began work to transform the park in March into a "multi-functional event space" that will host "many other festivals." Phase one of the project, which is on pause for the summer, includes improving utilities and electrical infrastructure, and adding a hardened surface to the event space to accommodate people with mobility needs.
