After many years campaigning, the hopes and aspirations of some young people (who are now older), with the support of a number of local councillors, has finally paid off with Ballymena's newly constructed skate park handed over to council within the last week.
Located at People's Park in the town, the investment by Mid and East Antrim Borough Council has been greatly appreciated with enthusiasts of all ages, and even a local police officer taking advantage of the attraction.
The idea for a skate park was first raised back in 2006, and at the time a petition was started that garnered more than 2,000 signatures, and one Ballymena councillor has been behind it all the way ever since.
Cllr Beth Adger MBE has advocated for the facility in the town for 16 years now and regularly brought it to the forefront of discussion at the council’s capital works committee meetings.
Councillor Beth Adger MBE
A newspaper clipping from 2006 pictures the petition being handed over to the then Mayor of Ballymena, Cllr Tommy Nicholl.
Cllr Adger is delighted to finally see the skate park completed, and said:
"It is just fantastic to see this facility finally finished and to be enjoyed by many of our local residents and visitors to Ballymena.
"Our new skate park will mean young people don't have to travel to other places to take part in what they enjoy. It has been a blessing to know that all the campaigning, hard work, and patience, have been worth it.
"It will be a great asset for our town."
Mid and East Antrim Council tasked ex-pro Skateboarder Marc Churchill from Gravity Skateparks to develop a design for the skate park to providea facility for new skaters whilst challenging the experienced.
Marc created a unique layout that has interlinking features and multi directional items to ensure as the rider become more proficient, with challenges including transfers, gaps and carve lines.
Ballymena’s new skatepark features a mix of street and transition elements with suitable flow between areas, and has three distinct areas:
• Firstly the ‘street section’ with low level equipment re-creating urban architecture, where riders can practice technical tricks.
• Secondly, the faster paced ‘ramp section’ with a Jump box where riders can practice getting air.
• Thirdly the ‘mini section’ featuring bowl elements where riders can practice their transition skills.
The design caters for all of the main disciplines of wheeled sport (skateboard, BMX, scooter and inline) along with disabled access requirements.
The facility has been designed to be suitable for all age and skill levels, inherent within the design is activities and access for young people regardless of their perceived ability.
One local skateboarder, Marc Beggan (33), told Love Ballymena:
"I started skateboarding back in 2000, almost 22 years ago, and I think it is fantastic to use of a previously wasted space.
"Long overdue, after all these years we now have a safe, specifically-designed space to skate without damaging public property or trespassing.
"Already there have been folk from Belfast, Derry, Lisburn, Bangor, and the North Coast, and more, asking me about it and wanting to come, so that shows already the success of the park - people are excited and rightly so!"
Marc added:
"The skating community are a welcoming, safe, accepting, and positive bunch, so it’s great for the next generation coming through to have somewhere.
"It’s cross-community sport, where race, religion, or not anything else matters. It will be a great spot for the community to come together around something positive!"
Another skateboarder commented:
"I'm 29 and I started skating when I was 9 years old. It's cool to finally see Ballymena have a skatepark after years of having to skate in a carpark.
It is also great for the next generations of skateboarders from around Ballymena as well.
The design of the park is awesome for experienced skaters and beginners, with my personal favourite being the street section.
It has been brilliant seeing new and younger people showing up at the park over the last week as well. They can continue to benefit from having an actual skate park as they grow older in years and in the sport itself!"
Mayor of Mid and East Antrim Borough Council, Alderman Noel Williams said:
“It is fantastic to see the opening of the Skate Park at People’s Park which provides a challenge for skaters of all abilities.
“There is great interest in this facility and I know it will be bring visitors to Ballymena from across Northern Ireland.
“To mark its opening an exciting event is planned for Saturday 24 September to officially launch and celebrate this fantastic facility in our Borough.”
Haffey’s Sports Grounds have completed this project. The handover of the Skate Park to Council took place on Friday 9 September with an official opening event planned for Saturday 24 September.
What3Words: ///churn.activism.inspector