Rushcutters Bay Park BMX track built by kids after skate park stalls

With their long-promised skate park still no closer to reality, kids from Sydney’s east have taken matters into their own hands and built a BMX track.

A group of children defied the disgruntled residents who have successfully delayed construction of a skate park in their area for years by taking a patch of dirt and transforming it into a BMX track.

The vast Rushcutters Bay Park, which spans both Woollahra and City of Sydney council areas, is heavily used by residents of surrounding suburbs including Darling Point, Darlinghurst, Kings Cross and Potts Point.

Children first began lobbying Woollahra Council for the facility in 2013 and it gained momentum and funding in 2016.

However due to strong opposition the project has been repeatedly scuttled.

Indiana Hanrahan, Jack Cameron and Linus Brawn at the BMX track at Rushcutters Bay Park

Actor Alexandra Davies and her son Indiana Hanrahan, 11, have been frequent visitors to the BMX track which is built on the City of Sydney side of the park behind the tennis courts.

“The dogs have lots of space to run around so why can’t they let us have this little space with our ramps?” Indiana said.

Ms Davies, who is best known for her long running role as paramedic Cate McMasters on All Saints, said she and Indiana spent eight months in lockdown in LA only to have the briefest of reprieves before being plunged back into stay-at-home orders after moving home last year.

Alexandra Davies as paramedic Cate McMasters in All Saints. Photo courtesy of Channel 7.

“It’s really difficult for the little ones especially with having to do home schooling,” Ms Davies said.

“So the kids took it upon themselves to grab some spades, dig in the dirt and create some little jumps.

“It was very industrious and it reminded us all, all of us adults, of what we used to do when we were kids.”

City of Sydney council workers have flattened the ramps on several occasions and so before approaching them, Ms Davies reached out to her neighbours via popular neighbourhood group the Potts Pointers.

While some expressed concern, the children do ride across at one point, the response was overwhelmingly supportive.

The kids just want council to stop flattening their jumps.

Among the supporters were Kings Cross resident of more than 30 years Hugh O’Keefe, 79.

Mr O’Keefe said despite being a bachelor with no children of his own he was delighted by the BMX track as he previously summarised few children lived in the area as he rarely saw them out playing.

“But then when I read Alexandra’s story (on the Potts Pointers) I realised that’s where all these kids have been all this time – they’re indoors on their Gameboys!” Mr O’Keefe said.

“Now, they’re out in the fresh air and the sunshine getting dirty and having fun like I used to when I was a boy.

“The area where they have built the track is basically a bit of wasteland. They’re not taking away from anything else – it’s been barren like this for as long as I can remember.”

City of Sydney councillor Jess Miller is sympathetic to the kids and will be putting up a motion at this month’s council meeting asking BMX and off-road mountain biking be incorporated into the city’s places strategy.

Ms Miller will also be tabling a petition of more than 500 signatures from families using Sydney Park who built their own mountain bike track during lockdown and also want to keep it.

Cr Miller, who is running again at the upcoming election on Clover Moore’s team, acknowledged the concerns of residents about the BMX track.

“I think we have to look at it holistically. There’s nothing that can’t be solved with a conversation and good design,” Cr Miller said

“There’s a solution here – we just have to find it.”

Children are desperate for more recreation in the area. Picture: John Appleyard

Meanwhile Woollahra’s Cr Anthony Marano, who has championed the skate park, said he hoped the kids would get to keep their BMX track.

The Liberal councillor will not be contesting the upcoming election.

“The fact that these local kids who all live near me in Rushcutters Bay spend hours every afternoon rebuilding these ramps after they have been flattened during the day proves that they are desperate for us to build this facility for them,” Cr Marano said.

“They play down here everyday getting fresh air and exercise, they are happy and not bothering everyone.”