Issued: 15 March 2024

A new skatepark in Kingsbridge has been given a green light for community use, now that fencing has been removed.

Built during winter 2023, extra fencing was the last item to be completed to make sure the skatepark was completely safe for the park’s users. With this now carefully in place, the Council would like to thank the community’s skaters who have patiently waited for the opening. They will now reap the full benefits of the park with the better weather as we head towards the spring and lighter evenings.

The skatepark was only realised thanks to the extraordinary generosity of Kingsbridge residents earlier this year and the tireless leadership of the project by local volunteers.

A Crowdfunder scheme raised more than £38,000 over just a couple of months, with Sport England reacting to this overwhelming local support by contributing £100,000. Kingsbridge Town Council provided further funding of £50,000 and South Hams District Council gave £30,000 with a further £25,000 of Section 106 Developer’s (S106) Funding. To complete the huge funding contributions, the Gibbons Trust provided £5,000 and the Norman Family Trust gave £5,000.

Adam Sherring, of the Kingsbridge Skatepark Community Group, said: “This has been a passion project, in response to seeing skaters daily desperate for a quality park. The ongoing support of people in and around Kingsbridge has been humbling, and the skatepark will bring real and long lasting improvement to the quality of life of young people in the town. I couldn’t be prouder of the way Kingsbridge has pulled together to deliver this.”

Cllr Victor Abbott, South Hams Executive Member for Community Services and Leisure, said: “The local community raised funds to deliver this skatepark in super quick time, through their local Crowdfunder which in turn attracted interest and secured funding from Sport England. This is testament to the importance Kingsbridge residents place on improving facilities for their young people. We are thrilled to have played our part in delivering a skatepark that responds to community need, and it has been a pleasure working with the local community and the Town Council to deliver this project.”

Philip Cole, Chairman of Kingsbridge Town Council, said: “We are over the moon to see the opening of the skatepark. Local young people have been extremely patient awaiting the opening, and we can’t wait to see them enjoying the new ramps.”

The construction of the project was carried out by Wheelscape, an experienced skatepark construction design and build company. They have worked closely with the skating community to design a skatepark that the local community really wants, and to respond when changes and updates to design were needed.

Elliot Hamilton, project manager at Wheelscape said: “This has been a complicated project to deliver, and we are thrilled to now see the opening of a quality skatepark.

“During the build, we were overwhelmed by the interest from local skaters and riders, and it is clear that this is going to be a popular and well used park. We are delighted to be helping to improve the health of future generations to come and we couldn’t have achieved this project in such good time without the support of the community – well done Kingsbridge!”

With drier and warmer weather in the spring, there will be a formal opening of the park, at which we can expect some music, freebies, and some expert display of skating and riding, so watch this space!

ENDS