Sydney has seen pop-up shops, pop-up cafes and even pop-up yoga – now young residents can look forward to a pop-up skate park.
The City of Sydney, in partnership with Totem Skateboards, is hosting a free temporary set-up at the Peter Forsyth Auditorium in Glebe, featuring ‘skateable’ sculptures and obstacles, screenings of skate videos and a free barbecue.
Lord Mayor Clover Moore said the pop-up skate park was a great way to provide safe and healthy sporting opportunities for more skate fans.
“Skateboarding is a popular recreational activity and with the City’s population of young people growing, we need to ensure there are safe facilities to cater to all skating age groups,” the Lord Mayor said.
“This pop-up is a great way to introduce new people to the sport while the City works on developing and building a permanent facility at The Crescent in Annandale, which is expected to open next year.”
Sydney Skateboard Association head Cameron Sparkes said he hoped to see lots of new faces at the pop-up skate park.
“It’s extremely encouraging to see the City of Sydney make such a positive initiative and offer a fun opportunity to Sydney skateboarders of all levels and ages,” Mr Sparkes said.
“With the much needed facility for Glebe, to be located within Johnston Creek Parklands, on the way, this is a perfect opening to ‘fill the time gap’ and provide a temporary solution until the Glebe facility is completed.
“I encourage all Sydneysiders to come along, engage with our community and check out some skating!”
The pop-up skate park at the Peter Forsyth Auditorium, corner of Franklin and Forsyth streets, Glebe is on:
- Wednesday 24 February, 5pm–8pm;
- Wednesday 30 March, 5pm–8pm; and
- Wednesday 27 April, 5pm–8pm.
A quarter pipe, concrete ledges and other ramps near where the viaduct crosses The Crescent will offer skaters of all levels a chance to sharpen their skills as they enjoy their growing sport.
Best practice and research co-funded by Griffith University and Gold Coast Council encourages skate facilities to be visible to passers-by, accessible to the whole community and integrated with the surrounding environment and other activities, so skateboarding is included as part of the general community.
This provides safety to skaters, especially younger children and their parents, who have said that isolated skate parks or spaces that are exclusive to skaters can be discouraging and intimidating.
While it is challenging developing skate facilities in the built-up inner city, the City has made significant progress. The City spent $600,000 redeveloping the Waterloo Skate Park, known as Fernside, replacing the old metal half-pipe with an innovative 920-square-metre urban street plaza style park, designed in consultation with local youth and skate boarders.
The City also upgraded the skate ramp at Federal Park Glebe, installed an informal plaza-style skate space at Redfern Oval, and added a skate bowl to the older children’s play area at Ward Park in Surry Hills
These permanent skate facilities can be found at:
- Ward Park, corner of Devonshire and Marlborough streets, Surry Hills;
- Federal Park, Chapman Road, Glebe;
- Redfern Oval, Redfern Street, Redfern; and
- Waterloo Park, corner of Elizabeth and McEvoy streets, Waterloo.
For media inquiries: City of Sydney Senior Media Adviser Jodie Minus 0467 803 815 or jminus@cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au
For interviews with Lord Mayor Clover Moore: Paul Mackay 0432 182 647 or email pmackay@cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au