Parents awarded ?147k to set up ‘vibrant’ new skate park

A mum and dad who campaigned to bring an "inclusive and vibrant" skate park to a Lincolnshire village have been awarded £147,000 in funding for the project. Parents Matt and Debbie Scarborough believe the skate park will be "extremely beneficial" to their local community in Skellingthorpe[1], after experiencing their son riding his scooter at skate parks all over.

The National Lottery Community Fund confirmed that it awarded Skellingthorpe Parish Council £147,000 in National Lottery funding to install a new skate park. It said the project "aims to fill a gap in local provision in Skellingthorpe by offering a safe and supportive environment where young people can come together to enjoy urban sport and encourage them to live healthier[2] lives."

The skate park will be based at Monson playing field in Skellingthorpe alongside the existing play equipment[3], with some readjusting. Mr and Mrs Scarborough said they first approached Skellingthorpe Parish Council in early 2023 with the idea, and the funding has exceeded their 50 per cent funding target.

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They said: "Our son rides his scooter at skate parks all over and we, as parents, have seen how well used a lot of these facilities are. They offer great benefits and physical activity to a wide age range of users, and we felt it would be something extremely beneficial to our local community. So, we set up an online petition and Facebook group to gauge interest.

"Our son appeared on BBC Radio Lincolnshire twice talking about what a skate park would mean to him and why he wanted one. We held a public consultation, engaged with the local schools and gained feedback from our local community."

They added: "The project is now able to move ahead, and we are due to appoint a skate park company in early December. They will then continue with public consultation and meet with a design team of local skaters to create a bespoke design that hits our mission statement.

"At Skelly Skate Park our mission is to provide an inclusive and vibrant community space that fosters creativity, athleticism and personal growth through skating, scooting and BMX-riding. We are committed to creating a safe and supportive environment where individuals of all ages, backgrounds and abilities can come together to embrace the joy of urban sport, push their limits and cultivate a sense of belonging."

Mr and Mrs Scarborough said they will be sharing all the updates on their Facebook page, 'Skelly Skate Park', for anyone who wants to follow the progress of the project.

References

  1. ^ Skellingthorpe (www.lincolnshirelive.co.uk)
  2. ^ healthier (www.lincolnshirelive.co.uk)
  3. ^ play equipment (www.lincolnshirelive.co.uk)
  4. ^ Where's the best Santa's grotto in Lincolnshire? (xd.wayin.com)

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