New image reveals ‘street plaza’ skateboard park plans for Swansea’s Victoria Park

Swansea Council say they will soon be advertising for a contractor to carry out the improvement works at the area of the park where the skate ramp is currently located.

The design follows consultation with skateboarders, fans of other wheel sports and local residents where hundreds of views were taken on board.

Working with experts at Curve Studio, the council says the improvement is part of a £2.8m investment in wheel sports facilities across the city.

It’s anticipated work will start at Victoria Park in August and be finished by the end of the year.

The council says that all other areas of the park will be unaffected by the improvements.

Cllr Robert Francis-Davies, Swansea Council’s Cabinet Member for Investment, Regeneration and Tourism, said: “We want to make Swansea one of the UK’s best destinations for outdoor sports and recreation, including skateboarding and other wheel sports, to meet the needs and aspirations of the community and for our young people – our possible future Olympians.

“It’s why an investment worth close to £3m is now ongoing throughout the city that means people in most parts of Swansea won’t have to travel more than two miles to reach an improved facility.

“Our partners at Curve Studio have a proven track record in delivering high-quality wheel sports facilities elsewhere in the UK and beyond.

“The work planned for Victoria Park is among many similar projects which are either complete or in the pipeline for the near future.”

Upgraded neighbourhood skate parks are now available for use at both Coed Bach Park in Pontarddulais and Parc Melin Mynach in Gorseinon.

Other sites already announced for neighbourhood skate park improvements include Mynydd Newydd in Penlan and the Phoenix Centre in Townhill.

There are also plans for a new pump track for novice and junior BMXers at Melin Mynach and the existing pump track at Clyne Valley will be undergoing a refurbishment.

Consultation is ongoing for an improved skate park in Ynystawe, a small cycling facility in Blaenymaes, a BMX focussed facility in Gowerton and a pump track in Bishopston.

The council says that details on other sites to benefit will be announced in due course.

The overall investment includes funding from ward members, the community investment fund, community and town councils, and the Welsh Government through an active travel grant.

#CurveStudio #Skateboarding #skatepark #Swansea #SwanseaCouncil #VictoriaPark

Work complete at Pontarddulais skatepark

Swansea Council says the new facility is part of its commitment to invest £2.8m in neighbourhood skate parks across the city by working in close partnership with local communities and a specialist design company called Curve Studio.

Coloured predominantly in red and green, the new concrete facility at Coed Bach Park replaces an old metal ramp that had been in place there beforehand. It includes two back-to-back mini ramps, a volcano, a pump roller, a seating area and a soft landscaped space.

Work has also now started to make improvements to the existing skate park at Parc Melin Mynach in Gorseinon.

Council plans mean most people won’t have to travel more than two miles to reach a redeveloped skateboarding or wheel sports facility once the investment is complete.

Cllr Robert Francis-Davies, Swansea Council’s Cabinet Member for Investment, Regeneration and Tourism, said: “Skateboarding, BMXing and other wheel sports are very popular in Swansea, but many of our young people have had to look elsewhere for quality facilities to pursue their hobbies in recent years because the standard of the facilities here hasn’t been good enough.

“This is why we’re investing close to £3m in neighbourhood skate parks across the city because it will help meet demand while also raising Swansea’s profile as one of the UK’s best destinations for wheel sports.

“The completion of the upgrade work at Coed Bach Park is one example of many other schemes that will soon be following suit in other parts of the city to benefit young people in all our communities.

“It follows-on from our major investment in playgrounds throughout Swansea in a boost for local families and young children.”

Other sites already announced for skate park improvements include a skate plaza at Victoria Park, as well as neighbourhood skate parks at Mynydd Newydd in Penlan and the Phoenix Centre in Townhill. There are also plans for a new pump track for novice and junior BMXers at Melin Mynach and the existing pump track at Clyne Valley will be undergoing a refurbishment.

#BMX #CurveStudio #Pontarddulais #SkatePark #Skateboarding #SwanseaCouncil

His backing comes within days of a workshop being held to further explore whether an initial design concept for a street plaza-style facility would work at the current location of the skate ramp at Victoria Park.

Swansea Council will be investing more than £2m in skateboarding and wheel sports facilities across the city.

Working closely alongside local communities and expert company Curve Studio, an improvement plan for many Swansea sites as well as Victoria Park is currently being worked on.

More workshops will follow in other areas of the city where improvements to skateboarding and wheel sports facilities will have maximum impact.

James, who was part of Great Britain’s freestyle BMX team at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, grew up in Swansea’s Sandfields community and was a regular user of Victoria Park’s skate ramp as a youngster.

He said: “It’ll be amazing to have this kind of council investment in Swansea’s skate park environment. I’m coming to the end of my career now, but it will make a huge difference for young people in Swansea to have access to brilliant facilities in future.

“I’ve been riding for about 15 years but with amazing facilities in Swansea someone could be in my position or even better in half that time.

“The council investment will help the popularity of wheel sports further grow in Swansea, which will benefit not only young people but also older people who enjoy skateboarding and BMXing.

“This is great because it’ll encourage more people to spend time outdoors, which is healthy.”

Cllr Robert Francis-Davies, Swansea Council’s Cabinet Member for Investment, Regeneration and Tourism, added:

“We want Swansea to become one of the UK’s best cities for skateboarding and other wheel sports.

“This is why we’re investing over £2m in these facilities, following-on from our major investment to considerably improve dozens of children’s playgrounds across the city.

“James has already put Swansea on the global stage for BMXing, and we hope our investment will help inspire a future generation of wheel sports Olympians too.

“This is part of an overall plan to make sure most people don’t have to travel more than two miles to reach a redeveloped skateboarding or wheel sports facility in Swansea.”

[Lead image: Swansea Council]

https://swanseabaynews.com/2024/11/01/olympian-gives-thumbs-up-to-wheel-sports-investment/

#BMX #CurveStudio #Skateboarding #SwanseaCouncil

It’s part of a Swansea Council commitment to invest more than £2m in many of these facilities by working in close partnership with local communities and a specialist company called Curve Studio.

Early designs for Victoria Park will be the first available for feedback, with a workshop soon being held to further explore whether an ambitious street plaza-style facility would work at the current location of the skate ramp there.

All other areas of Victoria Park would be unaffected by the proposal.

Taking place in Swansea Guildhall, the workshop – looking at this site only – will include two sessions on Tuesday October 22:

• 5pm to 6.30pm for skaters and riders
• 7pm to 8.30pm for other members of the public

Those in attendance are asked to report to Guildhall main reception, where they’ll be directed to the room where the workshop is being held.

An improvement plan for many other skateboarding and wheeled sports sites throughout Swansea is also currently being worked on.

Similar workshops will follow in other areas of the city where improvements to skateboarding and wheeled sports facilities will have maximum impact.  

Cllr Robert Francis-Davies, Swansea Council’s Cabinet Member for Investment, Regeneration and Tourism, said:

“Skateboarding and wheeled sports are very popular in Swansea but the current facilities we have need upgrading and improving.

“That’s why we’re investing more than £2m in these facilities to make sure they meet local people’s needs and aspirations.

“Feedback from skateboarders and other wheeled sports enthusiasts is key to our proposals as we continue to work in close partnership with the experts at Curve Studio, who have a proven track record of designing top-class facilities both in the UK and overseas.

“Victoria Park will be the first of many facilities across Swansea to benefit, so we’d encourage people to come along to the workshop and give views on initial design proposals for the site.

“This is part of an overall plan to make sure most people don’t have to travel more than two miles to reach a redeveloped skateboarding or wheeled sports facility in Swansea.”

The Victoria Park skatepark workshop follows-on from an online consultation and drop-in events held earlier this year. Over 300 people took part, helping Curve Studio get further knowledge of the public’s views and to scope out potential sites.

Jeremy Donaldson, of Curve Studio, said:

“The council’s investment means Swansea will become one of the UK’s best cities for skateboarding and wheeled sports.

“Since the initial consultation, we’ve been busy working on potential sites across the city and preparing suitable design concepts. We will continue to work closely with local communities to develop the projects.

“The Victoria Park skatepark workshop will give skateboarders, wheeled sports fans and other members of the public the chance to see what we’re proposing for that site, while also allowing opportunities for input and feedback to help shape the final designs.”

[Lead image: Swansea Council]

https://swanseabaynews.com/2024/10/18/work-starts-to-shape-swansea-skatepark-proposals/

#CurveStudio #SwanseaCouncil #VictoriaPark