Residents, skatepark users, young people and families invited to review the first designs for a new skatepark in Stapleford

In November 2023, more than 200 local donors and supporters successfully crowdfunded over £12,000 towards the skatepark, including match-funding from Sport England and donations from County Councillors. These funds provided match-funding in subsequent applications for larger capital funding sources. Several locations for the new skatepark were considered, with the final location at Pasture Road Recreation Ground being decided on after a public consultation event in November 2024. The event was attended by 40-45 local residents, including children and young people receiving free skateboard coaching with pop-up ramps and other obstacles.

All the project partners are now delighted to share initial designs for the skatepark kindly produced by experts Canvas Spaces. A grant from Sport England’s ‘Movement Fund’ (which also funded the earlier event in November) will enable Broxtowe Borough Council and Skate Nottingham to host a 4 hour consultation event on Saturday 17 May, at the Pasture Road site. Young people (all ages 7+) are invited to take part in free coaching sessions from 12pm midday, with movable ramps and free skateboard and helmet loan courtesy of Skate Nottingham. The ramps will then be available for practitioners of all wheeled sports (including scooters, BMX, inline and quad skates, alongside skateboarders) to enjoy until 4pm.

Throughout this time, the initial designs for the skatepark will be on show for the public to view, discuss and share their thoughts and reactions, both with the designers from Canvas and with officers from Broxtowe Borough Council. All feedback will then be taken into consideration and will be shared with the Stapleford Towns Fund Delivery and Executive Boards, who will make the final decision on the designs and precise location within the Pasture Road site in June.

Chris Lawton, co-founder of Skate Nottingham, says,  'this is an awesome time for Stapleford, following more than three years of dedicated campaigning initiated and led by local teenager Kaenan Byrne. As lifelong skateboarders ourselves, we’re really excited to see this project take shape. The concepts for the skatepark in Stapleford have strong ties to active travel, sustainability and inclusive access to all wheeled sports, meaning that it will be the unique, high quality facility for users of all ages and abilities, that Stapleford really deserves. We’re also very excited to work with Broxtowe Borough Council and other partners to secure work experience for local young people during the design and construction phases of the skatepark, which will be transformative in raising aspirations and creating new career pathways for the local area.'

Leader of Broxtowe Borough Council and Portfolio Holder for Economic Development and Asset Management, Councillor Milan Radulovic MBE, said, ‘I’m so pleased that we’re able to reveal the plans for a new skatepark in Stapleford to replace the old facility at Hickings Lane. It has been carefully designed by experts with local users in mind, and this fantastic event on the 17 May shows just how important the voice of the users is in shaping the look of the skatepark. I encourage as many people as possible to go along and make their voices heard, on what should be a great day out for all.’