Trailblazer for Low Cost Regeneration of Older Skate Park

Jamie of the JBPL Team has been involved in an exciting and innovative community project based in Suffolk. 

The project is centred around new obstacles being installed at the Stoke Bridge skatepark in Ipswich, which celebrated its 20th anniversary earlier this year.  The project has only been possible with the help and support of: Skate Suffolk; Skateboard GB; and Betongpark. 

The obstacles were originally the main attraction during the temporary pedestrianisation of The Strand in Westminster last year, which are now being rehomed in Ipswich. These new additions will help modernise an ageing, but much-loved public space. 

Skateboard GB provided the grant funding to Skate Suffolk to transport and install the forms at the skatepark, which took place on Friday 30th of September.  This was a significant logistical undertaking, with each obstacle weighing between 1 and 3 tonnes and needing specialist equipment to transport and re-locate the pieces between Westminster and Ipswich.  

A further skateable sculpture will be stored by Ipswich Borough Council for potential future temporary, or more permanent installation, in active public realm or multi-use development in the future.   

Skateboard GB, Skate Suffolk and Ipswich Borough Council have worked together with skatepark experts Betongpark - who originally created the sculptures at The Strand. The obstacles had been in storage with Westminster City Council since the end of the project last autumn, and will now have a long-term home in Ipswich.  

Skateboarding is a rapidly growing sport, with in excess of 534,000 active participants in England and approximately 750,000 across the UK as a whole. It is an activity with a strong and growing record of attracting new people into physical exercise and, in particular, working effectively with young people at risk of marginalisation from education, employment and mainstream sports. 

The project in Ipswich is a trailblazer for low-cost regeneration of older skateparks nationwide, whilst embracing the ethos of the ‘active public realm’ and ‘active travel’ agendas. These terms describe new ways of revitalising urban spaces by encouraging sports, physical activity, public art and the custodianship of those spaces by users, whilst reducing transport emissions and improving public health.  

James Hope-Gill, CEO at Skateboard GB, commented: “It is great to see amazing sculptures which were created for and by skateboarders, being given a new lease of life in Ipswich. We are delighted by the forward-thinking attitude of Ipswich Borough Council for recognising the need to continually upgrade skateboarding facilities in the town.” 

Cllr Philip Smart, Ipswich Borough Council Portfolio Holder for Parks, says: 

“There’s nowhere better than the Stoke Bridge Park Skatepark to site these skateable sculptures. Ipswich Borough Council is pleased to help skateboarders through our provision of skate parks at both Stoke Park and Whitehouse Park. We are here for our residents of all ages who want better skateboarding and improved leisure facilities.” 

The new features at Stoke Bridge skatepark are already being utilised and benefiting the local community.