Within the Guidance Interventions List for Wales, published 13th April 2022. Section 1. Communities and place under Interventions. This project will meet intervention: Funding for local sports facilities, tournaments, teams, and leagues, to bring children, young people and adults together.
We want the old skatepark transformed into a fit-for-purpose modern concrete wheeled-sports park which will be fully inclusive of all wheeled-sports enthusiasts. Skateboarders, BMX riders, roller-skaters, rollerblade/in-liners and wheelchair-WCMX users will be able to use the facility. We want the wheeled-sport park to be a fully inclusive facility, allowing all ages and abilities, along with disability users to feel comfortable and thrive. We envisage a facility that can hold competitions and help our wheeled-sports users grow and develop their skills in sports that are now becoming recognised by the International Olympic Committee.
The facility should guarantee decades of further wheeled-sport use which gives it longevity for future generations of users. Providing vital leisure and fitness opportunities for young and old for many years to come in an area lacking outdoor sports and recreation facilities. The new wheel-sport park will also enhance the profile of the playground giving a much tidier and dynamic look with new trees, social areas, and seating, encouraging young children playing on other parts of the playground to become involved in wheel-sport activities.
Our measurable targets/outcomes initially centre around the construction of the skatepark. We gather quotes and use a tender process to choose the preferred company for the job. This process has already taken place and will be described later.
We have measured what types of skatepark are preferred and what the potential users want to see in the skatepark. This process has been measured by holding numerous meetings and three community engagement events, which used two phases exploring different scenarios, gathering the thoughts of the attendees to arrive at a consensus and final design. You can read more about this in the attached Community Engagement and Feasibility Study carried out by Curve Studio Ltd. Within this study you will see pictures of the skatepark today in relation to the design process and design of the proposed new skatepark.
The Feasibility Study by Curve Studio Ltd also gives measurables in relation to topography and flood risk of the site. Once the skatepark has been constructed measurable targets will centre around users.
How many users on a weekly, monthly, yearly basis?
How can we increase these numbers?
What is the mix of users in relation to the different types of wheeled sports?
Is the park more popular with scooter riders as opposed to skateboarders?
Measuring age and diversity of skatepark users is a valuable and useful gauge of community cohesion that can be positively developed over time.
