Flintshire

Hawarden Skate Park - awarded £10,000

The land that would soon become Hawarden Skate Park is found at the edge of Gladstone playing fields in Hawarden, Flintshire. The site is part of a field, near to playing fields, tennis courts, a main road and a local secondary school. The area lacked any specific provision for young people to meet and play. It was identified that a priority for the area was a place where young people could play safely close to where they live, but not too close that it would intimidate or annoy other residents.

Groundwork worked with Hawarden Community Council and consulted local residents and young people through open evening sessions. Youth workers delivered outreach sessions to identify local skateboarders and BMX bikers to involve them. During the course of the consultations it soon became clear that a skate park was the most popular suggestions.

Design workshops were held, which helped young people to contribute to every aspect of the design for the skate park including surfacing, obstacles/ramps, regulations, optimum usage and budget. The designs were informed by presentations on similar sized skate parks.

With help from Barclays SiteSavers, the project was soon completed and a local professional skateboarder volunteered his time to give a demonstration officially to open the skate park.