Teenage BMXers, skateboarders and scooter riders are celebrating today after learning their campaign to rebuild a popular skate park in Irlam won a grant worth nearly £60,000.
The skate park in Princes Park on Liverpool Road was forced to close in November last year after health and safety fears.
It has been so popular since opening in 2005 the riding surface of the ramps could not cope with the volume of riders using it.
Cameron McIntosh at Irlam Skate Park
But young people in Irlam and Cadishead vowed not to let their favourite outdoor sport go, and set about trying to raise the six-figure sum needed to replace the structure of the skate park.
An original £150,000 quote was cut down to £125,000, but it was still a huge mountain to climb for community volunteers.
But now there’s a light at the end of the tunnel.
The campaign, kickstarted by passionate 18-year-old media student Sarah Murray, and Lewis Nelson – recently voted Salford City Youth Mayor – has already managed to squeeze £60,000 out of existing council environmental budgets.
Lewis told SalfordOnline.com today: “This is fantastic news that pays tribute to the hard work that went into the application, and the dedication of the local community in getting the skatepark rebuilt.”
The community campaign was co-ordinated by Hayley Mullen, a mum-of-two and marketing professional from Irlam.
She said: “For something that seemed impossible when we got the total bill, it’s just amazing that it can go ahead.
“It seemed like it was never going to happen.
“Any resident that lives in Irlam knows we haven’t got much. There’s one road in and one road out. Kids can’t just jump on the bus and go to a local skate park.
“So when I saw something fundamental like this for the children just taken away, I knew I had to get involved.
Read: Hope for Irlam Skate Park as teens lead 150k fundraising campaign
This extra grant money, some £59,761, comes from The Veolia Environmental Trust.
It means work can start to reinforce the Princes Park ramps with a stronger specialist material called ‘skate light’, which should last at least 25 years.
Another £2,000 is still needed to cover the total cost of the rebuild but it’s hoped this can be raised from the local community so work will be able to start by the end of spring 2016.
Jacques Laycock
Councillor Gena Merrett, Salford City Council’s executive lead member for housing and environment, says: “We knew the skatepark was incredibly popular with young people from the local area and further afield, so we were determined to replace it.
“We’re delighted that The Veolia Environmental Trust has contributed to the cost and hope to see the park back in action as soon as possible.”
Main image: Sarah Murray with Jacques Laycock in background
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