Kidwells Park Skatepark Project, Maidenhead

Aim: Raise the extra money needed to rebuild and renew Maidenhead's Skatepark for people of all ages and abilities who enjoy Kidwells Park

Who Are We?

Hi, I’m Tom Wright, a local Maidenhead resident. I've been a passionate skateboarder for nearly 30 years. 

Throughout the 1990s I was one of the many children hanging out at the skatepark in Kidwells Park and was always encouraged and supported by the community of people - young and old - who became a part of my life there. 

Over the decades I’ve watched the skatepark deteriorate. Recently a ramp was decommissioned and removed. It's sad to see a part of the park, which was originally gifted to our town over 130 years ago (which has always been run by the historical Kidwells Charity) look so run down. Maidenhead deserves better.

After hearing that RBWM was investing in Kidwells Park I felt that the time was right to do something about it. I want the people of Maidenhead - of all ages and abilities - to have a modern, safe, and vibrant space in the town that meets the needs of skateboarders, BMX riders, families and the entire community.

Today we have a chance to make a real difference to a park where our children will be able to take their children.

Can you help?

A new Skatepark in Maidenhead will:

1. Provide a safe, controlled space for skateboarders, Bmx-er's and Scooter riders to avoid them using unsuitable spaces like our high street and car parks. A police report showed that antisocial behavior dropped by 40% following the opening of a skatepark in Dorchester.

2. More people will be encouraged to use the park, especially those who live in homes without gardens, like the nearby flats, or young people who tend to spend too much time on their screens! 

3. It will be free and open to everyone. A 2020 Skateboard GB report found that 91% of skaters feel that skateboarding helps them feel part of a community. That's something I experienced growing up in the town, and I want everyone to feel that in Maidenhead.

4. As part of the regeneration of Kidwells Park a new skatepark will create greater business opportunities for the town through events and competitions - the park was a gift to us and deserves investment to keep it.

Why Are We Crowdfunding?

RBWM has generously pledged £200,000 towards our campaign. This kind of investment gives us a once in a lifetime opportunity but it's still not enough to fully fund the project. From the outset, skatepark builders and Skateboard GB have advised us that we need at least £280,000 to create a skatepark that not only fills the space but also offers the variety of obstacles necessary to accommodate both beginners and seasoned skateboarders and BMX riders. We don't want to cut corners with this. 

We’re looking to raise the £80,000-£100,000 shortfall through donations and grants but we have a limited timeframe. This opportunity won’t be around forever. 

Every single penny raised through this campaign will go directly into the construction of the new skatepark . See below for the ways in which you can help - Follow Us, Share your Memories, Pledge Funds and Fundraise. Any size of donation will help us .

Why Maidenhead Needs Skatebording

We've seen a rise in skateboarding since it became an Olympic sport in 2020. Indeed, there's a growing trend of more girls and young women taking up skateboarding which is really encouraging! Skateboarding and BMX aren’t just sports - they’re a lifestyle, a support network, and a community of like-minded individuals. 

When you skateboard you learn from your peers - which is the best way for anyone to learn! You persevere through challenges, you have to take risks and your confidence can quickly soar. There are few rules in skateboarding/bmx, but when a young person learns to wait their turn, respect others and encourage those who are new and trying their best they are learning the kind of rules that helps a society in every way. As someone who has spent nearly a lifetime in and around skateparks I can’t overstate how important these spaces are to towns.

We all know that Maidenhead is experiencing significant growth with multiple new housing developments, but many of these new developments lack open spaces for residents to enjoy - indeed, one of these developments overlooks Kidwells Park. The new skatepark, along with the soon-to-open café, will provide a much-needed recreational space for current and new residents. This is especially important for the younger people moving into the area many of whom are already facing challenges caused by the pandemic and the economic crisis. It’s a fantastic opportunity to create a space for them so they can get outside, meet with friends after school, be part of a group or just come along on their own, get active and potentially try something new that might change their life!

Even with its damage and deterioration, we still have around 40 - 60 active skateboarders and BMX riders regularly using the park but there are frustrations and we've lost most of the BMX riders when we lost the ramps. If we don't create the skatepark we need it could have a detrimental impact on the town in many ways.

Our bigger vision is to establish a Maidenhead Skate Hub. This will allow us to provide skateboard lessons, introductory taster sessions for beginners and create a free maintenance area where riders can use tools to maintain their equipment.

Some Key Stats on Skateboarding/BMX in the UK:

● Over 750,000 people in the UK skateboard regularly (Skateboard GB, 2021).

● 58% of skaters are under 18, highlighting the importance of providing a space for young people.

● The UK has around 1,600 skateparks, many of which are outdated or poorly maintained (SBGB Skatepark Finder).

● 74% of UK skaters would skate more if they had better local facilities.

How you can help

There are four simple ways to help:

1. Follow us. We have an Insta page you can follow to stay updated on our campaign. Please share it with anyone who has ever enjoyed Kidwells Park. The more people we reach, the more support we will get. 

2. Share your memories. Use our Insta page or email us your stories and memories of the Skatepark. We want to know what it means to you and your friends. Your opinions matter.

3. Make a pledge. Please consider making a one off or regular donations to the Kidwells Park Trust via this Crowdfunder. We can accept donations from individuals, charities and businesses. Maybe your business can donate a prize or service to our campaign, or engage your employees in helping to make this happen!

4. Fundraise for us. If you want to run your own fundraiser – maybe a sponsored activity or similar – use the 'contact project' button at the top of our page to let us know. Setting up your own page only takes a few minutes and you won’t need to share any bank details - just have a fun idea!

Funding method

Keep what you raise – this project will receive all pledges made by 18th September 2025 at 8:48pm