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M32 SPOT - DIY Skatepark and Community Space
Bristol, England, United Kingdom
Aim: Support a DIY skatepark with a local community to reclaim a neglected space underneath the M32 Motorway in Eastville, Bristol.
We are a group of passionate people who want to reclaim the space underneath the M32 Motorway in the community of Eastville, Bristol for the people surrounding it.
About the Space
The space is barren and brutally designed to keep people out. Bricks have deliberately been laid out to make areas unwalkable and a fence divides the street from the river Frome, which also traps in rubbish blowing down the concrete riverbank, which ultimately ends up in the river.
Yet, people use this space. People are living right on the doorstep of the underpass, dog walkers walk through it on their way to Eastville Park, families take their children to school, cyclists and walkers commute past on the Frome cycle path and on their way to the shops on the other side. Also skateboarders.
The M32 Spot DIY Skatepark
A grass-root self-build skatepark has been built by the DIY community who literally used waste collected from the area to become the building blocks of this popular space. It is the only free undercover skatepark in Bristol, and known worldwide in the self-build skatepark communities. Since the skateboarders have become guardians of the space, prostitution and drug pushing have gone down and the the space is less frightening to local residents.
Our Aims
We want to support the M32 Spot DIY skatepark and include the local community to claim back this neglected space. Together we want to tackle the environmental and social issues creatively, connect a divided community and improve the wellbeing for everyone.
The space needs a lot of love:
- The wooden ramps need to be replaced by concrete ramps which cause noise issues to local residents.
- We need more lighting in the space to make it appear safer.
- We need to introduce seating areas for parents bringing their children to the space.
- We want to extend the space to include facilities for children and young people. Many houses dont't have back gardens, and there are no places to play close by. These might include a bikability track, Basketball nets and mini scooter track.
- We want to look at green solutions to absorb the pollution in the space, including hedges and vertical gardens.
- We want to clear up the river and surrounding areas from fly-tipping, and bring more colour into the space.
- We want to support a local resident to organise litter picking groups and look after the connecting routes as well, making the overal space more pleasant to walk through.
Our Team
- LitterARTI, a local non-profit community organisation, who works with local communities to tackle social and environmental issues creatively. We have been working with the community of Eastville over the last year and a half doing creative projects and interventions.
- People's Republic of Stokes Croft, who brings experience of improving public spaces and curating street art in public spaces including the Bearpit and Stokes Croft in Bristol.
- DIY Bristol and the building crew of the M32 Spot
- Local residents
- University of West of England: Including students from film-making, architecture, entrepreneurship and art departments.
Where will your money go?
£3000 will be a fantastic start for us, the grassroot-nature of the project is that a lot can be done on really small budgets.
So we will be able to build a few ramps, start work on the kids adventure playground, build seating areas, explore a vertical gardens and hedges, do more paintwork and do the clean-ups!
This initial funds will also attract bigger investment, as some of the changes we need to see in this space, holds high ambitions and for some of it we need corporate supporters and big players to get on board. Getting electricity installed alone costs £2000. Getting the river deep-cleansed is of a specialist nature, as well as the fly-tipped debris accumulated in the area.
Our Rewards
We have one Limited edition Print available by the artist Sepr for £30!
Title: 'Putting The Band Back Together'
Medium: limited edition 3 colour screenprint, designed, printed, signed & numbered by the artist 2015
An Original Artwork, Lady Molotow by Zaseman for £100!
Mixed Media on Wood 68cmx48cm.
A Mural by the artist SP Zero 76 for £650! (Restrictions apply on size of wall and location proximity to Bristol)
Cool rewards from the amazing Camp Hillcrest! For amazing skateboarding adventures in the Wye Valley!
- 2xT-Shirts,
- 2 x 3 hour skating sessions with campfire for 5 people
- 2 x private skateboard lessons for 2 people.
Also branded Skateboarding T-Shirts, and graffiti sessions with Where the Wall
Our Supporters
- Bristol City Council
- Bristol Waste Company
- Sustrans
- Local organisations like the M32 Cafe', Friends of Eastville Park, The Freemantle Road Residents Association, Eastville Social Club.
With thanks to our Contributors and Sponsors
- Love Saves the Day
- 5050Store
- RockSolid Distribution
- Camp Hillcrest
- People's Republic of Stokes Croft
- Where the Wall
- Artists Deamze, Sepr, Zase, Dekor, SP Zero 76, Lee Kirby, Silent Hobo, Kid Crayon
A Map of the Area
FAQ
What is the hashtag of this campaign?
#M32Spot #BetterBristol - Do check out amazing skating videos and what we have been up to under the #M32Spot hashtag as well.
Twitter: @litterart1 Instagram: @litterarti Facebook: /litterarti
How does the BetterBristol Campaign work?
We are part of some fantastic projects in Bristol crowdfunding under the #betterbristol campaign run by the Bristol Bristol Green Capital Partnership. Some projects who managed to reached their targets, got match funded, however, we are still in the game! And working hard to get to our target of £3000!
What if you don't get the match funding and don't reach your target?
The projects who did not get the match funding, continue to crowdfund until the deadline of 28 June 2017. If we don't meet our target, your money will be returned to you.
When will I get my awards?
Some awards we can send off in July, but some are dependent on us creating more works in the space over the next month, like the artwork, and we will be able to prepare and send off the rewards as soon as these are completed in August. We will keep you informed.
How can I get more involved and follow the project in the future?
We have a group on Facebook called M32 Spot, and please follow Litterarti on Facebook and Instagram or @litterart1 on Twitter to get in touch. If you would like to volunteer on the project, we would welcome any hands and expertise, and you will be able to learn a few more skills too, maybe even get a few skateboarding tips.
Also check out Turn the M32 into a DIY Skatepark and DIY Bristol.
This project successfully funded on 29th June 2017