Stratford Skate Park repairs spark future development ideas
Stratford District Council (SDC) and Stratford District Youth Council (SDYC) are inviting skate park users to share their views on what the future of the Stratford Skate Park could look like.
Community Development Manager, Chade Julie says, “We want to know what skate park features people want to use when they visit. We’re not experts in kickflips and other tricks, so we need to know what’s going to work best for those who are.”
The opportunity to seek user ideas comes after SDYC representatives shared their safety concerns for people using the Skate Park bowl. “SDYC highlighted that the bowl ledge was chipping away and within the bowl the concrete was uneven and causing accidents,” says Chade.
The skate bowl has since been temporarily fenced off to prevent users dropping in and risking an injury. SDC is now planning to fill in the existing skate bowl and make improvements to the skate park area as a whole.
“A replacement bowl in the current location isn’t practical, but that doesn’t mean there isn’t the option of having a bowl elsewhere within the skate park, if that’s what people want,” he says.
SDC has approached contractors who have developed other skate parks around the region and their advice has been to start fresh. Rather than repair or replace the bowl in the existing location, they suggest any new bowl needs to be located elsewhere within the skate park. “We don’t want to put a band-aid over it and have to address the same issues again in a few years, we’d like to create something that users will value and use for years to come,” says Chade.
“Collecting ideas from skate park users will help us narrow down what’s feasible within the skate park environment as well as what’s affordable,” he says.
Work to fill the existing bowl is dependent on contractor availability and weather, but needs to be completed this year. Until then SDC is urging people to stay away from the bowl area.
Skate Park improvement ideas are welcomed now and will close 17 October 2022.
To share your suggestions, you can:
- Complete this online survey
- Share your feedback using the Antenno App
- Email feedback@stratford.govt.nz and use “Skatepark” as the subject line
- Follow Stratford District Youth Council on Facebook for more opportunities to have your say.
