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Camden’s “world class” skate park open
Hundreds of skateboarders and BMX-ers gathered in Camden on Friday, 6 April, for the opening of a new skate park, dubbed the best in the UK.
Skaters from across the country took to the bowls, banks and “street” obstacles to perform their best tricks at the free outdoor skate park in Cantelowes Gardens, Camden Road. Among them were the Cantelocals, the local BMX and skateboarders' group that helped Camden Council design it.
The brand new skate park was part funded by Sport England London, who awarded £50k towards the Skate Park and £10k towards a Park Officer to provide coaching, and The John Lyons Charitable Trust who awarded £30k towards the new facility.
The Cantelocals worked closely with Camden Council and its landscape architects to come up with a design that meets BMX-ers' and skateboarders' needs. It includes areas for beginner and advanced skateboarders and spectators as well as a massive concrete bowl, ramps, skid rails, practice pavements and a performance platform.
Cllr Flick Rea, Executive Member for Culture, officially opened the park. She said: “Thanks to the Cantelocals, Camden has a truly fantastic new facility for young people. I know they were really looking forward to the opening and being able to develop activities in the park, such as competitions and training for beginners to experts.”
Matt Elms, of the Cantelocals skateboarding group, said: “From the beginning we set out to get the best skate park we could - by taking the best aspects from the original park and modern design. The great thing is, that is exactly what we’ve got because Camden Council really listened to us. This is the only concrete skate park in the UK to have this combination of banks, street areas and bowls - including an amazing feature called a “cradle”, which allows skaters and BMX-ers to ride upside down!”
On the official opening and first skate jam, he added: “The weather was perfect, we had a fantastic turnout and everyone obeyed the rules. It couldn’t have been better.”
David Carlin, UK Skateboarding Association, said: “Cantelowes skate park is brilliant. It reflects the best in skate park design, it has a world class bowl and is already attracting international skateboarding competitions. I’ll be skating here a lot.”
Roger Lewis, Assistant Investment Manager, Sport England, said: “
“This is fantastic news for Cantelocals. Not only will 1500 locals use the facility, but there will be coaching and training for those who want to start and stay in skateboarding, and international jams taking place for those who want to succeed in the sport. The skate park breaks down barriers to participation and we hope that it will help create a more active community”
The skate park, open from 11am to 9pm seven days a week, is part of Camden Council’s £1.5 million redevelopment of Cantelowes Gardens. Local residents had a major input into the plans to rejuvenate the park, which includes a new multi-use sports pitch and pavilion, two new children's playgrounds and landscaping work to provide quiet areas, shrub beds and dog walking space.
Cantelowes Gardens is on Camden Road (NW5). For more information on Camden Council's parks and open spaces visit camden.gov.uk/parks or call 020 7974 1693.
To find out more about the Cantelocals visit cantelowesskatepark.co.uk.
Ends
For further details, please contact press officer Stephanie Malyon on 020 7974 2464 or stephanie.malyon@camden.gov.uk
Notes to editor:
Sport England gave £50k funded towards building the skate park and a further £10k towards a Park Officer to provide coaching. The introduction of a part time coach/mentor will also ensure that delivery of skateboarding will not only be maintained but will be introduced to new participants within the local area.
Sport England:
Sport England exists to sustain and increase participation in community sport. It is a non-departmental public body and Lottery distributor. Our ambition is to get two million people participating more in sport by 2012. We do this by promoting, advising and investing in community sport.
The John Lyons Charitable Trust has provided funding of £30K towards the skate park.
News
Press Office
London Borough of Camden
Room 303
Town Hall
Judd Street
London WC1H 9JE
Tel: 020 7974 2464
Fax: 020 7974 5718
stephanie.malyon@camden.gov.uk
10/04/07Immediate
Camden’s “world class” skate park open
07/1xx
Hundreds of skateboarders and BMX-ers gathered in Camden last week (Friday, 6 April) for the opening of a new skate park, dubbed the best in the UK.
Skaters from across the country took to the bowls, banks and “street” obstacles to perform their best tricks at the free outdoor skate park in Cantelowes Gardens, Camden Road. Among them were the Cantelocals, the local BMX and skateboarders' group that helped Camden Council design it.
The brand new skate park was part funded by Sport England London, who awarded £50k towards the Skate Park and £10k towards a Park Officer to provide coaching, and The John Lyons Charitable Trust who awarded £60k towards the new facility.
The Cantelocals worked closely with Camden Council and its landscape architects to come up with a design that meets BMX-ers' and skateboarders' needs. It includes areas for beginner and advanced skateboarders and spectators as well as a massive concrete bowl, ramps, skid rails, practice pavements and a performance platform.
Cllr Flick Rea, Executive Member for Culture, officially opened the park. She said: “Thanks to the Cantelocals, Camden has a truly fantastic new facility for young people. I know they were really looking forward to the opening and being able to develop activities in the park, such as competitions and training for beginners to experts.”
Matt Elms, of the Cantelocals skateboarding group, said: “From the beginning we set out to get the best skate park we could - by taking the best aspects from the original park and modern design. The great thing is, that is exactly what we’ve got because Camden Council really listened to us. This is the only concrete skate park in the UK to have this combination of banks, street areas and bowls - including an amazing feature called a “cradle”, which allows skaters and BMX-ers to ride upside down!”
On the official opening and first skate jam, he added: “The weather was perfect, we had a fantastic turnout and everyone obeyed the rules. It couldn’t have been better.”
David Carlin, UK Skateboarding Association, said: “Cantelowes skate park is brilliant. It reflects the best in skate park design, it has a world class bowl and is already attracting international skateboarding competitions. I’ll be skating here a lot.”
Roger Lewis, Assistant Investment Manager, Sport England, said: “
“This is fantastic news for Cantelocals. Not only will 1500 locals use the facility, but there will be coaching and training for those who want to start and stay in skateboarding, and international jams taking place for those who want to succeed in the sport. The skate park breaks down barriers to participation and we hope that it will help create a more active community”
The skate park, open from 11am to 9pm seven days a week, is part of Camden Council’s £1.5 million redevelopment of Cantelowes Gardens. Local residents had a major input into the plans to rejuvenate the park, which includes a new multi-use sports pitch and pavilion, two new children's playgrounds and landscaping work to provide quiet areas, shrub beds and dog walking space.
Cantelowes Gardens is on Camden Road (NW5). For more information on Camden Council's parks and open spaces visit camden.gov.uk/parks or call 020 7974 1693.
To find out more about the Cantelocals visit cantelowesskatepark.co.uk.
Ends
For further details, please contact press officer Stephanie Malyon on 020 7974 2464 or stephanie.malyon@camden.gov.uk
Notes to editor:
Sport England gave £50k funded towards building the skate park and a further £10k towards a Park Officer to provide coaching. The introduction of a part time coach/mentor will also ensure that delivery of skateboarding will not only be maintained but will be introduced to new participants within the local area.
Sport England:
Sport England exists to sustain and increase participation in community sport. It is a non-departmental public body and Lottery distributor. Our ambition is to get two million people participating more in sport by 2012. We do this by promoting, advising and investing in community sport.
The John Lyons Charitable Trust has provided funding of £30K towards the skate park.
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