Skaters called on to help carve out skate park’s future

ARMSTRONG Creek skaters – and skaters of the future – are being encouraged to have their say on new designs to revamp the Waurn Ponds Skate Park.

The skate park is recognised as one key recreational and social space for young people across Waurn Ponds and surrounding suburbs, and feedback on its draft redesign is important.

Expert skate park and youth space designers Convic have developed the proposed concept plan, which includes retaining the iconic steel ramps and adding a new beginner to intermediate flow bowl and an advanced competition bowl.

A new youth active recreation zone with additional activity options that could include parkour and bouldering is featured, along with more greenery, shade and seating areas.

The City of Greater Geelong aims to extend the area as a recreation and community hub and create a key destination for young people.

The existing site is at the intersection of Pioneer and Bridge roads, adjacent to the Geelong Baseball Club, tennis club and BMX track.

Its close proximity to shopping and community precincts, and easy access by public transport, makes it an ideal location for families to visit and for larger community events.

The upgrade is thanks to a combination of funding allocated in council’s Proposed Budget 2021-22 and $1.3 million from the Victorian Government’s Sport and Recreation Victoria Community Sport Stimulus Infrastructure Program.

The draft plan and redesign can be viewed on the City of Greater Geelong’s website under ‘your say'<b> </b>with community feedback invited until 5pm on Friday, July 9.

Designs will be finalised this year and construction is planned to start in early 2022.