New skate park up and rolling
Users give the thumbs up to new Comrie facility
Comrie’s new Skate Park opened with a bang last Friday.
A pyrotechnic display from Blast Design launched the long-awaited facility and scores of wheels were soon in motion on the freshly set concrete.
The skate park has been over eight years in the making, thanks to the hard work of members of Comrie Youth Extreme Sports and the group of friends who initially came up with the idea for the village.
A large crowd turned up to see skaters, scooter fans and BMXers try out the park and it was given a unanimous thumbs up.
Two of the original instigators of the project, Cameron Carstairs and Gerry Rodan, thanked everybody involved in helping their dream
become a reality. Fran Loots, chairperson of Comrie Youth Extreme Sports, said it could not have been done without the fabulous support from the community and other local organisations and donators, and the main funder, Active Places, Legacy 2014.
She added a special thanks to local architect Chris Palmer who has overseen the build.
CYES secretary Alison Ritchie said that the process over the eight years had also been a great learning curve for the youngsters involved.
She also paid tribute to the hard work and tenacity of Fran who has persevered with the project since the beginning.
Alison said: “I’m not sure any of us really have any idea just how hard Fran has worked in achieving this amazing resource for Comrie – astonishing commitment, professionalism and sheer graft.
“Fran defines tenacity. There were many times when the whole project ran aground, hit a wall, when it all seemed totally unachievable – to most of us, but not Fran. She can find her way our of dark corners and round blind corners, always finding a new angle, a creative solution, or a total hair-brained scheme.
“Not only do we have this fab skate park, but all the young people who have been part of this process have been part of something amazing. They have learned that if you really work hard and keep focused on the goal, then look what you can achieve. So for all of that, thank you, Fran.”