Burnside Council to conduct feasibility study for ‘wheel park’ in Erindale

Plans for a permanent skate park in Adelaide’s east have taken another major step forward – and skaters and BMX riders could be the big winners. See the details.

Plans for a permanent wheel park in Burnside have taken another major step forward.

Elected members earlier this week approved a feasibility study to investigate the suitability of Newland Park housing a permanent facility for skaters and BMX riders.

However, the council voted against looking into Kensington Park Reserve as a possible location.

Skate the East member Richelle Martin said it was a “small step forward” towards a permanent wheel park and was happy Newland Park was being investigated.

“Council will finally be able to look into a location, work out all contributing elements, speak to all stakeholders and come up with a design that all residents can finally have an opinion on,” Ms Martin said.

Burnside Council’s 12-month pump track trial attracted more than 550,000 laps from users. Picture: Roy VanDerVegt

Cr Julian Carbone said it was a “massive step in the right direction”.

“We are closer to having a permanent skate park than we have ever been before and that’s very exciting,” Cr Carbone said.

“As a school student, I first asked for a skate park in 1999 and now as an adult and as an elected member, this dream is about to become reality.”

It follows a largely successful 12-month pump track trial, across several locations, with more than 550,000 laps recorded between February 20 last year and March 9 this year.

Council staff reported sections of the community want a permanent wheel park in Burnside which would cater for both young and older people.

The study could also explore expanding on existing services at either location and engage with current users, including Burnside Tennis Club at Newland Park.

“The feasibility study may consider not only a wheel park, but also other recreational facilities and buildings, and other opportunities for enhancing the park,” a council report read.

“There are opportunities to develop a broader recreational precinct at Newland Park as part of a wheel park development.”

Newland Park was easily the most popular (275,751 laps) for users during the trial, followed by Kensington Park Reserve (132,708).

“The vast majority of all feedback received was complimentary of the pump track,” the report revealed.

“Based on the feedback, it is clear that Newland Park was the most popular location.”

There have been suggestions that the council combine with neighbouring municipalities to build a ‘regional wheel park’.

However, opportunities for a joint park proposal with either Campbelltown and Adelaide City have been “exhausted”, staff say, with both districts focusing on their own skating projects.

“It is expected to be a long term opportunity, rather than immediate,” the report stated.

Meanwhile, the next proposed locations for the pump trial are the tennis courts at Langman Recreation Reserve and Penfold Park with a third location to be announced at a later date.