Work has begun on demolishing a skate park in Ystrad, Rhondda Cynon Taf, and creating a new one. Skate parks in Beddau and Ystrad are both set to be demolished and rebuilt as new concrete skate parks, with the Beddau project currently out to consultation.
Design and consultation process
The council is working with industry experts The Skate Company and Maverick to consult with users and design and deliver the new-look parks in Beddau and at Gelligaled in Ystrad. Maverick is run by pro skaters and has delivered a huge range of skate parks across the UK.
Following months of consultation with young people, including sessions with the council’s youth engagement and participation service and attendance at the popular Skate Jam held in Gelligaled Skate Park every year, the final designs for Gelligaled were signed off and work has begun.
Construction timeline and Beddau consultation
The old skate park has been demolished already and work is now ongoing to build the new concrete skate park, with the work expected to take six weeks. The existing skate park in Beddau will also be demolished to make way for a new concrete one, and the council is also working with The Skate Company and Maverick on that project.
It is currently in the consultation stage, and the council has already held a few sessions in the community and at nearby Bryncelynnog School, again with the support of the youth engagement service. Online consultation takes place on September 30, and the council says it wants as many people as possible to sign up and register for the online event. During the consultation, people in Beddau will be able to chat with staff from Maverick and see the plans, the council says.
Funding and wider scheme
Both projects are included in a £4m scheme to improve and enhance parks, country parks and play areas over the next financial year. The original £3.3m scheme received a £750,000 boost following a decision by the council’s cabinet on Monday, September 21.
