New push for permanent city skate park

Adelaide’s skating, scooter and BMX communities are preparing to increase efforts to convince the State Government to fast-track plans build a permanent skate park in the city.

Bronson Culpin-Lavers, Katrine Hildyard, Jasmin Hendrie, and George Sarantoulias watch as Finn Owen Pfluger flips his board. They all want a permanent skate park built in the city.

• Permanent skate park not on agenda for new State Government

Adelaide’s skating, scooter and BMX communities are preparing to increase efforts to convince the State Government to fast-track plans build a permanent skate park in the city.

And it seems the Government is listening.

Skaters and riders came together at a community meeting, organised by the Rebuild Adelaide Skate park Facebook group and the Opposition, at the Goodwood Community Centre on Saturday to launch a new campaign for the proposal.

They plan to organise petitions and a rally at Parliament House next year as part of the push.

The group wants a permanent facility built to replace a temporary one established in the east parklands in 2015 after the city’s former skate park on North Tce was demolished to make way for the UniSA health building.

Skateboarder Bronson Culpin-Lavers, 25, from O’Sullivan Beach, said the temporary facility “would have been good if it was there to ease into something a bit better” but three years after it was built, the community was still waiting for a permanent park.

“(Skate parks are) like a community hub for these young people to come together,” he said.

“It’s time to step up and realise that the action sports is not only a greater community but it’s a real life sport taking people to the Olympics.”

Opposition sport and recreation spokeswoman Katrine Hildyard attended the meeting to support the cause.

“The overwhelming thing is that people are just really resolute to work together for as long as it takes to get this done,” she said.

“Our community, which includes so many of our young people, need a central place to enjoy their sport and to connect with one another.”

Labor pledged $3 million for a permanent skate park in the lead up to the March State Election.

The Liberal Government in May said it was open to proposals however other infrastructure projects were taking priority.

The Government told The Advertiser on Sunday it is working towards delivering a permanent CBD facility.

“The State Government is in discussions with the Adelaide City Council about delivering a city skate park and is committed to finding a permanent solution,” a Government spokesman said.