A place to skate in peace

BY MATT BOWEN

Skateboarders just want a good place to ride in peace, without being shunned, threatened or issued with trespass notices.

Now they’re going to get one.

Manukau City Council has put aside $600,000 to build a premier skatepark on the western side of Ormiston Bridge in Barry Curtis Park.

And they’ve opened up the design process to anyone who cares to comment.

The website www.bcparkskatepark.co.nz has received numerous comments from local skaters.

And American pro-skater Bryan Herman has put in his two cents recommending a remake of the Tampa park in Florida.

Co-owner of Boardertown in Botany Tim Guy says the ideal park will appeal to a range of abilities and age groups.

"With Barry Curtis Park being so large they should take advantage of the space, make it the largest in Manukau city and make it a real destination park that basically encompasses every different style of skateboarding.

"They should look at it with the view of doing it once and getting it right."

But he says the proposed site isn’t ideal.

"Its location doesn’t necessarily meet the needs of the Botany and Howick communities.

"It has the potential to neglect the area where the need is the biggest. That’s one potential issue that needs to be addressed."

Mr Guy is also on the technical advisory committee due to start firming up the design at the end of the month.

Council parks development manager Johan Ferreira says about 70 people are now actively giving input online.

"The work of the technical advisory group will kick in based on the preferences that the skaters come up with."

And as it progresses updates will be posted online, he says.

"People can comment on those ideas to tell us if we’re on the right track or not.

"At the moment the skaters are driving it.

"The technical advisory group will then drive it until we get to the final design which will hopefully fit into our budget," Mr Ferreira says.

Construction of the skatepark is scheduled to begin early next year.

- © Fairfax NZ News