AusLeisure

Launching a new $400,000 skate park at Lionel Watts Reserve in the Sydney suburb of Frenchs Forest, Northern Beaches Council Mayor Michael Regan has advised that the site is part of the Council’s commitment to provide a high quality sporting precinct for the community.

Mayor Regan advised “I’m really excited about this project – it is a great example of how Council and community can work together to get a great outcome.

“We engaged young people from the outset to help co-design the new facility, we ran workshops to get their ideas and they helped tweak the final designs. It was fantastic to have their input.

Local Davidson High student Tommy Cummings was asked to be part of the design process and was 'like a kid in a candy shop' when the park opened earlier this week.

Cummings cadvised "it feels great to know I had a personal involvement, not many people can say that. My aim was to make the (skate) park fun for everyone, and the feedback from skaters has been very positive.

"I really enjoyed helping out, it was good to contribute to our local community."

Mayor Regan added: “With the all-inclusive playground to follow, Lionel Watts is fast becoming a sporting and social hub for this area.

“I would also like to thank the former Warringah Councillors who helped shape this project before amalgamation. Initially it was a masterplan to allow synthetic fields and expansion. To see what the precinct has grown into is very satisfying.”

Standout features of the innovative flow style skate park include a ‘Taco’ in the north west corner to provide extra elevation for riders and a ‘China Bank’, which is modelled on a globally recognised skate location in San Francisco.

The skate park, which also boasts ramped edges and a raised central section, will be shared by BMX riders, scooter riders and skaters, with riders from beginner to advanced standards welcome to use the community facility.

Part of the Glen Street Open Space Landscape Masterplan, it follows the unveiling of new multi-use synthetic fields in July at the same venue. An all-inclusive children’s playground is also due for completion later this year.

The skate park is the ninth operating on the Northern Beaches, with skate facilities also at Manly Vale, Terrey Hills, North Manly, Frenchs Forest, Avalon, Mona Vale, Cromer and Forestville.

Image: Tommy Cummings (centre) with Northern Beaches Council Mayor Michael Regan.

Related Articles

29th August 2019 - Sydney’s Northern Beaches Council opens latest artificial turf development

18th June 2019 - City of Sydney plans for construction of new skate plaza and expanded parklands

18th May 2019 - World Skate regrets exclusion of Skateboarding from the 2019 Lima Pan American Games

15th May 2019 - YMCA Anglesea skate program helps reconnect indigenous youth with country and culture

1st May 2019 - World-class skate park set to open in Tamworth

29th April 2019 - City of Newcastle opens $2 million playground and skate park

29th April 2019 - TTC design and construct new skate and BMX parks for South Australia

17th April 2019 - Threatened Sydney Northern Beaches golf club secures new long term lease

14th March 2019 - Northern Beaches Council announces new sport facilities and creative art precincts

1st March 2019 - Long-awaited $3 million skate park to be built in Adelaide

3rd February 2019 - Permanent skate park and community green planned for Christchurch

4th January 2019 - Blacktown City Riverstone skate park opened for holidays

22nd November 2018 - YMCA appoints action sports expert to the Board of Skate Australia 

18th July 2018 - Cinema chains battle over redevelopment of former Brisbane roller skate arena

4th March 2018 - Toowoomba Skate City closes doors for final time

23rd February 2018 - New Mackay skate park secures first event prior to completion

19th January 2018 - Australian skateboarding looks to unity in advance of 2020 Olympics

10th December 2017 - Bondi Skate Park to welcome Tony Hawk

10th October 2017 - Sunshine Coast skate park reopens after $1.2 million upgrade

9th October 2017 - Melbourne City Council considers new skate parks

16th August 2017 - Australind skatepark opening a result of extensive community consultation

17th June 2017 - Big new skate space planned for Sydney Park

12th May 2017 - ACT Government looks to encourage people to run, cycle and skate to work

1st February 2017 - Porirua Skate Park wins Mural Masterpieces Award

26th December 2016 - Vans skate and BMX tournaments to combine with the Australian Open of Surfing in 2017

27th November 2016 - Sydney Eastern Suburbs park enhanced with skate park and inclusive playground

16th November 2016 - Tender for Design and Construction of Australind Skatepark

11th October 2016 - Skatepark and BMX circuit on track for summer opening

15th February 2016 - Oldest Australian skate park gets heritage listing

17th November 2015 - Skate plaza for new foreshore park on Sydney harbour

14th November 2015 - Dance to meet skateboarding at 2016 Great Southern Festival

9th November 2015 - Shade cover enhances popularity of Gladstone skate park facility

28th October 2015 - Skatepark at the heart of Maribyrnong River rejuvenation

16th October 2015 - Skateboarders petition against Olympic inclusion

15th October 2015 - Designs revealed for temporary Adelaide Park Lands skate park

1st October 2015 - Skateboard facility to help elite surfers develop their aerial skills

10th February 2015 - Australia’s largest skate park opens at South Hedland Youth Space

24th November 2014 - Skate Australia carves a digital pathway with revolutioniseSPORT

29th October 2014 - Port Hedland to be home to Australia’s biggest skate park

---

Support our industry news service
We hope that you value the news that we publish so while you're here can we ask for your support?

As an independent publisher, we need reader support for our industry news gathering so ask that - if you don't already do so - you back us by subscribing to the printed Australasian Leisure Management magazine and/or our online news.