Brentwood’s new specially-built skatepark is now officially open.
The park, in Ingrave Road, now has a concrete bowl as its centre-piece, which is used by 50 skaters, bmx riders, and roller skaters a day.
It was opened last Monday, with hundreds of riders keen to try out their skills in the new bowl.
The original park was threatened with closure after equipment was damaged a year ago. But a group of users got together to refurbish the park and the Brentwood Skatepark Association was born.
The group, headed by Robert MacGowan, soon realised that even with a revamp the skatepark would not be up to standard, so they started working on a new park, in three stages.
Skatepark Chairman Robert MacGowan
The association asked residents and users for their views on what they wanted to see at the skatepark. They then asked three companies to come back with their concepts, and the public voted on their favourite design.
This week the £80,000 bowl, which took four weeks to build, was open for use in time for the Urban Games, run by the council, which starts today.
Robert said: “I didn’t want the skatepark to disappear. The safest option was to refurbish it, but we realised it was inadequate. The facilities are used by 50 people a day, so it is well used and they had to be up to a good standard.”
He added: “The locals that use it regularly – their level of skill will progress 10 fold. They will also be less inclined to ride anywhere else in the town, like the High Street.
“The equipment they currently use is inadequate and this will make it safer. They were trying to do tricks on equipment that wasn’t safe before.”
The second phase of the project, due to start in the autumn is a ‘street section’ with obstacles including standing rails and ledges. It should be complete by the end of the year.
And next year the final phase with jumps and a spine ramp will be built.
Source: Romford Recorder
The design meeting with Wheelscape is on Wednesday 30th January 2013 in meeting room 1 
