Largs Skate Group have selected a new design for the £100,000 development at Mackerston, writes Ryan Scott and Calum Corral.
The sum was secured from Largs seafront car park funds towards the Largs Skaters Group, after a delegation addressed councillors at Largs Academy earlier this year.
Largs Community Council and Councillor Alan Hill have been working with the skate group towards the exciting new development for the town’s youth.
The money was earmarked for the development after various problems with the condition of the current facility was highlighted.
Skater Group Spokeswoman Veronica Galbraith told the ‘News’ that members have met with the North Ayrshire Council project manager, and the group were offered a number of options.
She said: “The group chose a concrete design which will withstand the weather from the seafront. We’d like to thank Cllr. Alan Hill and community councillor Margaret Wood who have both been a great help. We hope that the new park will be good for everyone.”
The new park will be suitable for skateboarding, scooters, inline skating, BMX and trials riding.
Commenting Cllr Hill added, “This project reflects many of the local priorities that we have been developing around our young people. The entire committee was very impressed at the presentation we received and the fact that there were around 15 young people present was testament to their desire to see some progress here. They were all a real credit to their families and to the local community.
“I am delighted that we have been able to support them and look forward to seeing the new skate park start to take shape.”
Earlier this year, Lorn Geddes and Euan Clague addressed the North Coast Locality Partnership on behalf of the young people present and there was a presentation of photographs taken by Lorn. They confirmed that the facility is used by a wide age range from 10 to 20+, both boys and girls who do skateboarding, scooters, inline skating, BMX and trials riding.
The young people see it as an accessible place for informal healthy outdoor activities and pointed out that there are few available facilities for teenagers in the Largs area.
The committee agreed to allocate up to £100k from the car park fund towards the new park. The committee also agreed that officers would involve the young people in developing and designing the new skate park.