A state-of-the-art skate park has been officially opened in Wisbech after a huge community effort to provide young people with a new and improved facility.
Youngsters who helped to design the skate park in Bath Road, Waterlees, joined residents, councillors, funders and others involved in the project for a celebratory ribbon cutting on Monday (February 25).
The £75,000 facility, which boasts solid concrete ramps, quarter pipes and a bowl section, was made possible thanks to a £30,000 grant from Clarion Futures, the charitable foundation of Clarion Housing Group.
The rest of the funding came from Section 106 contributions, Fenland District Council support and community fundraising.
District councillors Virginia and Michael Bucknor, who represent the Waterlees Village ward, have been championing support for an improved skate park for several years.
The old skate park in Bath Road was then removed last year due to safety concerns.
Since then Fenland District Council, Wisbech Town Council, Cambridgeshire County Council and Clarion Futures have worked together with residents and the ward’s Oasis Community Centre to help develop and fund the new skate park.
A community group was set up and a consultation was launched to ask residents and young people what features they’d like to see in the new facility.
Councillor Peter Murphy, Fenland District Council’s Cabinet member responsible for the environment and open spaces, said: “Young people played a huge part in the design process as their feedback helped to ensure the skate park offered exactly what they wanted.
“I’m delighted to see it come to fruition. It’s a great hub for young people to get together and enjoy their sport and an excellent example of what can be achieved when community organisations and individuals work together to push a project along.”
Matt Parsonage, head of communities at Clarion Futures, said: “We are delighted to have supported a project that has been led by the community and will give so much back to local people.
“Clarion Futures exists to provide new opportunities for our residents and we’re certain the new skate park will benefit residents for many years to come.”
Councillor Laura Cobb, one of the councillors who represents the Waterlees ward on Wisbech Town Council, said: “Since becoming a town councillor in 2017 I have worked with the town and district councils and other partners to achieve the replacement of the skate park at Bath Road.
“One of the reasons I stood to become a member of the town council was to try to achieve improvements to youth facilities on the Waterlees ward and to get the children what they want, need and deserve.
“I’m absolutely delighted the skate park has now been completed and is already being enjoyed by so many children.
“My pleasure in seeing this much-needed facility being provided for the young people of Wisbech is also shared by Wisbech Town Council; it’s a fantastic addition to the ward and town as a whole.”
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