Glenorchy Mayor Sue Hickey today officially opened a new skate park and pump track at Windermere Bay.
Mayor Hickey said the $550,000 facility would provide additional recreation infrastructure for the community, particularly for younger people.
“We know that riding skateboards, scooters and bikes is popular among children and young adults, which is why Glenorchy City Council is investing in these types of facilities to ensure we are helping keep young people active and engaged in healthy pastimes.
“Importantly, this new facility is located close to the Claremont CBD, the cycleway and public transport. It also adjoins the existing recreation area which features new public toilets, barbecue facilities, picnic tables and bench seats, and is near the boardwalk and walking track.
“Having facilities which are accessible and within easy reach of users is fundamental to maximising the benefits they provide for our community.
“We want our city to be a welcoming place with plenty of recreational opportunities for people of all ages, and this new skate park and pump track is an important part of that plan.
“Besides the obvious physical benefits of skate activity, skate parks promote social values of cooperation, self-expression, self-determination, communal spirit, freedom and creativity. The activity has also shown to improve mental health and social connectedness.”
Mayor Hickey said public consultation about the project showed a community preference for a hybrid skatepark with a half pipe and pump track rather than a traditional skatepark.
“The community and target users told us they wanted a facility which was suitable for local youth and scooter riders rather than for elite skateboard riders, and I believe we have delivered what they were seeking.”
Mayor Hickey acknowledged the funding provided by the State Government, through the Local Government Association of Tasmania, which contributed $275,000 to the project.
“This project demonstrates what we can achieve when different levels of government work together in partnership to deliver better outcomes for not just the targeted users of this facility, but the broader community as well.
“I would like to acknowledge the firms that partnered Glenorchy City Council on this project including Playce (design work), Grind Projects (skate ramp construction), Trailscapes (pump track construction), Total Turf Care (irrigation and associated site work), and Andrew Walter Construction (demolition of old Abbotsfield facility).
“This facility is a credit to all who have been involved, including those people in the community who gave us the feedback we needed to deliver an asset which will best serve its users. I have no doubt this will be an extremely popular facility which will serve our city for many years to come,” she said.
The Windermere facility replaces the ageing skatepark at Abbotsfield Park which was built more than 20 years ago and required replacing. Its distance from other facilities also meant it was underutilised, which is why the new facility was built in a more central area.
Glenorchy City Council intends for the Abbotsfield site to be maintained for sport and recreation uses, and there will be future consideration of other facilities that may be suitable at the site.