People flock to skatepark on opening weekend

The park’s opening concludes a project nearly twenty years in the making

Brackley’s much anticipated new skatepark opened on Friday and through the weekend the young and young at heart have been making good use of the facility.

The skatepark has been built next to Brackley Leisure Centre, alongside Candleford Close.  The design contains several quarter-pipes, ramps, ledges and rails.

It was nearly twenty years ago that a group of local skateboarders began their campaign for Brackley to have its own skatepark.

That campaign was heard by Brackley Town councillors who have pushed the idea forward, battling a number of delays, including recent issues with developer funding for the project and the pandemic.

Planning permission for the skatepark was granted in April 2023 and Maverick Skateparks began construction in June this year.   It was originally anticipated that the facility would be opened in April 2025, but work has been completed a number of months ahead of schedule.

On Friday morning the skatepark passed a ROSPA inspection and was officially handed over to Brackley’s Town Mayor, Councillor Elaine Wiltshire, who declared the facility open for all to use.

Councillor Wiltshire said: “This Skatepark has been 10 years in the planning to the official opening and has cost over £240,000.00.  It has been wanted by skaters in Brackley for a lot longer after the wooden one got damaged years ago.

“The sides have been seeded and with the weather we are experiencing at present (sunshine and showers) the grass will soon grow.  There is a walk way to the skatepark that has been woodchipped to save you walking on the soil.

“The Skatepark is now open to all for your enjoyment.”

Maverick are organising a Skate Jam at Brackley’s Skatepark for Saturday April 26, 2025 – the originally planned opening date.

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Published: 09/09/2024 02:03pm by Banbury FM Newsteam

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