Ollie good
REGION: A revamp of a Palmerston North skate park completed just in time for Christmas is proving popular as school holidays begin and the sun shines.
"You can do more big tricks and better tricks." Tokio Okada, 12.
A revamp of a Palmerston North skate park completed just in time for Christmas is proving popular.
City council leisure assets planner Jason Pilkington said there had been a 40 per cent increase in people using the Church St facility since the work finished earlier this month.
A pump track, pyramid ramp, pole jam, more banks and slabs have been added in the final stage of the skate park revamp, which cost about $250,000.
Bailey Nicholas, 12, said the changes had brought him back to the skate park.
He said the rails and the pump track were great additions. ‘‘It’s really exciting.’’ Tokio Okada, 12, said he liked the fly-out and the pump track as well.
‘‘You can do more big tricks and better tricks.’’
Keanu Ross, 14, said the new area of the park had made it better.
Pilkington said when work started in September last year they weren’t sure how far they would get because some external funding was needed.
However, Eastern and Central Community Trust ($150,000), the Lion Foundation (nearly $80,000), and Mainland Foundation ($20,000) provided money.
The work was undertaken by Angus Mcmillan Concrete, which also built the skate bowl.
Pilkington said the upgrade meant people with a wider range of abilities could use the park.
‘‘They are taking more risks, it’s quite good.’’
The park also appealed to younger users, with the snake run good for children on scooters.
‘‘The thing with scooters is they are easy to use, and they are cheap.’’
The official opening will be held on January 20 at 1pm.