Project: Skate Park
Location: Radcliffe
Value: £180k

The local Youth Worker and the Area Board representative had been working with a group of young people for some time to try and bring this ambitious scheme into reality. The vital support of the Parks department with the identification of a long-term derelict site in an ideal location i.e. close enough to transport links and the town centre and already colonised by many skaters and bikers, but distant enough from residential and commercial areas where gatherings of youth could have been a nuisance, gave a green light to the project. Many meetings establishing the group of young people took place who then sufficiently demonstrated their ability and commitment to convince N.W.D.A. to fund their dream. Further consultation resulted in the design and layout of the site and in identifying the best specialist contractor to build the ramps. Working with the Local Authority, a management agreement was drawn up and the site is now managed by the users who keep the site and ramps clean and report to the parks officers who carry out daily safety inspections of the equipment. The local police attended several meetings and agreed to assist with appropriate supervision. The most respected Graffiti writer in the area was commissioned to complete the work with a painting contract that included regular returns to constructively direct the energies of local youth.The site was cleared and graded to provide three terraced sections incorporating sloping, so as to be ride-able, tarmaced banks, steps, terraces including low rails. The ramp design included particularly challenging ramps, the site has seating, (also ride-able) and is now floodlit and open till late with riders from all over the northwest now visiting the site. The group have their own website and continue to organize events and fund raise to develop the site.