New Stapleford skatepark on the way thanks to £100k grant

Following two years of community engagement, fundraising and consultation, work can now start on a £236,000 skatepark on the Pasture Road Recreation Ground. 

The skatepark has been carefully designed with input from local young people, Skate Nottingham and specialists Canvas Skateparks and Public Spaces, designed to meet the needs of both the ‘park’ and ‘street’ BMX and skateboarding disciplines of all ability levels, featuring a long bank-to-rail, ledges and rails at various heights, and a combination of street obstacles and ramps.

It also meets the needs of female users, with direct input from women Expert User Group members (both skateboarders and quad skaters) and incorporating insight from the ground-breaking ‘Girl Skater’ research undertaken by Nottingham Trent University led by Professor Carrie Paechter, which highlighted the importance of open, accessible spaces within a skatepark layout, rather than overly crowded designs, alongside regular coached or supervised sessions to support girls’ participation.  

Differently-abled and neuro-diverse young people will be welcomed and supported. Local neuro-diverse young people were part of the User Group whilst Broxtowe Borough Council have committed to supporting the activation of the new space, including events and coached sessions that will provide free equipment loan and instruction tailored to different abilities and needs. 

The project would not be where it is today without the tireless commitment of local people and funding from a variety of sources. Supporting the successful £100,000 FCC Communities Foundation bid, submitted by Broxtowe Borough Council in partnership with Skate Nottingham, and extensive community engagement. More than 100 people attended four engagement events in Stapleford, 186 people shared their views over two online surveys and 202 people made generous donations to a Crowdfunder UK campaign, match-funded by Sport England. 

The project is also being funded from the Government’s £21.1m Stapleford Towns Fund. 

Chair of the Towns Fund Board, Ian Jowett, said, “We’re so grateful for the tremendous efforts of everyone involved in securing the FCC Communities Foundation grant and getting the skatepark project to where it is today. Alongside our Towns Fund investment we’re pleased we can now get cracking on the build and give our young people the quality outdoor facilities that they need and deserve.”

Chris Lawton, co-founder of Skate Nottingham and community development officer at Skateboard GB, the national governing body for skateboarding, said, “We’re stoked to help secure this funding from FCC, enabling the modern, well-designed skatepark that Stapleford and its residents deserve. We’re also grateful to the 202 generous local Crowdfunder donors. Their kind donations helped unlock this significant funding. We can’t wait to skate the new facility ourselves whilst we coach and introduce 100s of local young people and adults to skateboarding and its wider culture at Stapleford skatepark over the next few years.”

A new programme of free coached sessions, women only sessions, arts and creative workshops and youth outreach and enrichment, such as the Edu-Skate life-skills programme that Skate Nottingham have been delivering since 2021 which enables young people to work on 11 essential life-skills over a programme of weekly skate coaching sessions, including creativity, team-work and self-confidence. This will  also be resourced by Broxtowe Borough Council once the skatepark is open.

Kaenan Byrne, who began a campaign for a new skatepark after the old outdated and dilapidated Hickings Lane skatepark was removed in 2022, can’t wait for the new skatepark to open. 

He said, “It’s amazing to finally see a new skatepark taking shape in Stapleford. The original facility at Hickings Lane was really important to my generation and those before me, especially for our mental health during Covid. Now we’ll have a modern, concrete skatepark at Pasture Road that will last for years, that many of us have had a hand in designing. It will help new generations keep active and learn about art, culture, fashion, film-making and many of the other positive things connected to skateboarding.”

Richard Smith FCC Communities Foundation senior grant manager, says, “We’re delighted to be supporting the new Skatepark at Stapleford and pleased our funding will provide such a fantastic facility. FCC Communities Foundation is always happy to consider grant applications for projects that make a difference to local communities and we’re really looking forward to seeing this one take shape soon.”