Royston’s skatepark has been extended and revamped, and is now back open to the public.
So whether you’re a ‘grom’ (young skateboarder) or old-skool, a ‘kook’ (beginner) or ‘ripper’ (skilled), get ‘stoked’ (excited) and head down to the much improved skatepark at Newmarket Road Recreation Ground. And don’t get disheartened if you try a ‘gnarly’ trick (difficult trick) but it’s ‘sketchy’ (poorly executed trick) and you ‘wipeout’ (fall off)!
The council, with the help of landscape architects at Groundwork East and local users, has transformed the skatepark – it’s been extended on two sides, more than doubling the existing footprint, and the new street area includes hubba ledges and a grind rail, flowing into an open bowl/halfpipe suitable for all abilities, with an extended quarter-pipe for the more experienced riders!
Last year people were invited to complete a survey and attend consultation events, and a ‘design team’ of interested local users was created, to ensure the renovation met their needs.
One local user, Brooker Lawman, said: “It’s excellent having the extension, it really breathes new life into the place. I’ve spent years skating! Too many skateparks are being knocked down or left without maintenance these days, it’s sad to see because there really is nothing quite like companionship of the skateboarding community.”
Another, Rhyia Clark, said: “It’s awesome to see so many different and new people at the skatepark. The renovations haven’t just created a better place for us to skate, but it’s created new friendships and a more positive atmosphere in the area. It’s especially nice to see more girls and women coming along too!”
The skatepark reopens just as the youngest professional skateboarder in the world and GB’s youngest-ever Olympic medallist, Sky Brown (who won Bronze at age 13 in Tokyo 2020) competes in the Women’s Park Skateboarding in Paris tomorrow, 6 August.
Cllr Mick Debenham, Executive Member for Environment, Leisure & Greenspaces, said: “This has been a fantastic community project, working closely with local users, many of them young people, to ensure the upgrade was what they needed and wanted. We know the facility is of great value to the local community and are pleased to have it open again for the summer holidays.”
Another user, Spenny Dennis John Clark, said: “We’ve been fighting for this park for so long that it’s just rad watching it come back to life. It’s bringing more people to the park and bringing new people to the scene. I’ve spent years skating that park alone and now there’s always someone around to create a vibe with and have a good time!”
The upgrade cost £100k and was funded through contributions from a local housing developer (known as a section 106 agreement).
