Passionate teenagers in Irlam are fronting a community campaign to raise money to re-open a hugely popular skate park at Prince’s Park.
Irlam Skate Park closed on Monday 2 November due to health and safety fears, but local campaigners say hope is strong that they’ll be able to source the £150,000 needed for it to re-open in spring 2016.
Local councillors have already identified around £60,000 from the council’s Leisure Services budget, with around the same amount earmarked from Section 106 money – which is taken from developers who want to build in Salford to help improve local areas.
The 100sq m outdoor skate park on Liverpool Road was heavily used by teenagers both from the Irlam and Cadishead area since it opened in 2005 but also saw BMX, skateboard and scooter fanatics travel from all over Salford and Manchester to use the facilities.
But it was a victim of its own success: 10 years down the line, both the riding surface of the ramps and their subframes could not cope with the volume of traffic.
It shut on Monday 2 November for refurbishment, with tractors sent earlier this month to pull down and dismantle the ramps.
18-year-old media student Sarah Murray, from Highbury Avenue in Irlam, is helping to front the campaign to bring her beloved skate park back into use.
“The first time I used the park would have been when I was about nine, I went with one of my friends on this really bad BMX bike,” she told SalfordOnline.com.
“When I was in primary school I would come home, quickly change and then head straight there – we went whenever the weather was good enough, more or less every day if possible.
“I loved being able to use the ramps to fly through the air, it’s such a good feeling. Plus it kept me fit and not getting bored sat at home!”
Sarah says she liked disproving the stereotype that skateboarding, BMX-ing and scootering were male-only sports.
“I was just fascinated by the way people could use the park and I was always an outdoorsy kid, I always wanted to have fun.
“Also I was the only girl, so it was good in the sense that people were quite taken aback by the fact I did it.”
The money raised will be used the reinforcing the ramps with a stronger specialist material called ‘skate light’ so it will last 25 years, rather than just a decade.
“Since it closed me and my friends are struggling. I’ve hardly ridden since the demolition.
“We have travelled to indoor parks in Liverpool, Atherton and Warrington but it’s not convenient.
“There is Cadishead Skate Park, which is about a 10-15 minute scooter ride from Irlam but its tiny and really a beginner’s park, it’ll be hard for us to progress using that facility. Plus there are no lights on there and it is in the middle of a secluded area where a lot of antisocial behaviour goes on. It’s not very nice to be honest.”
Why did Sarah decide to front the fundraising campaign?
“I wasn’t going to allow the park to be taken away from me and my friends that easily. I wanted to stand my ground and let people know how much it means to the people that use it!
How confident is she the park will be open for summer next year?
“Well there is a part of me that thinks we can get the money given all of the recognition and attention we’ve gathered from the campaign already. But I won’t truly believe until I know we have the money or are really close to the target.”
What do you want to say to all the people who are still turning up to Princes Park only to find the skate park closed?
“I would want to say to them: Don’t quit, carry on. Action sports are an amazing thing to get involved in and one of the best life choices I’ve ever made! I wouldn’t want people quitting just because it’s gone, I am going to try my very hardest to get the money and not let the park slip away for good!”
Salford youth councillor Lewis Nelson, who is helping with the campaign, added: “Rest assured we are working our hardest to secure the rest of the money we need to build a brand new state-of-the-art skatepark.
“Any money we raise over the £150,000 needed will go into a pot to maintain the new skatepark.
“We hope that the new and much improved park will be built much before the first half of next year. We are all working hard to ensure that we keep a fantastic, nationally renowned skate park facility in Irlam that is loved and used by thousands every year.”
Find Irlam Skate Park on Twitter here and join the Facebook group here
A crowdfunding campaign has now been set up here with all donations gratefully received.
Main image: Jacques Laycock and Sarah Murray
