Let's build a cool new skatepark for Millbrook

Help us build a brilliant new skatepark for Skaters, BMXers and Scooters - and give our young people the opportunities they deserve.

After 14 years of daily use, Millbrook skatepark is much loved but, now falling apart. As recently as this August yet another rusting ramp was towed away. We have a passionate and active local wheeled community of young skaters, scooters and BMX-ers, and we want to create a local park they can use safely and be proud of - AND make it more accessible for wider community benefit, making Millbrook an even better place to live.

Who we are

We are a bunch of determined parents,  ex-Millbrook skaters and local business owners who realise the huge benefits of skating and wheeled sports to our local young people and diverse community. We've come together to get Millbrook a brilliant new skatepark. We've already raised £5k through local fundraising activities - but now we need your help to raise more money to help us unlock grants.

Benefits of a new skatepark in Millbrook

• Provide an inclusive, safer community hub that's free to all
• Opportunity to improve health and wellbeing of young people
• Make it more multi-use with better facilities - especially for BMXers and scooters
• Create multi-generational engagement opportunities
• Quieter and more attractive to look at for residents
• Create opportunities to positively impact the local economy
• Reduce offending including nuisance behaviour and minor crime
• Reduce social isolation in the community
• Increase community cohesion by running events, workshops and projects around the skatepark
• Increase access to quality facilities in a remote area
• Develop a better BMX culture with opportunities for young and old to learn new skills and try out cycling
• Put Millbrook on the 'skate safari' map and encourage sport tourism from areas like Stonehouse and Devonport, Plymouth, St Germans, Torpoint and beyond.
• Make our young people invested in, excited and happy!

Want we want to do

This is a once in a generational opportunity to do something brilliant in a real, but remote, Cornish community, that will be enjoyed for decades to come - not just by locals, but by young and old all over Rame, Plymouth, Cornwall and beyond.

The existing skatepark in Millbrook was built nearly two decades ago and has been a well-used public space. But the current metal and tarmac skatepark is now reaching its end of use and a new fit-for-purpose area for wheeled sports is much needed. Although the cost of a new concrete park is high, this would be a park that would last and a re-design would open up the opportunity to make it multi-use - more suitable for more wheeled sports like BMX and scooters. These sporting activities are also relatively low-cost at the outset for participants, and use of the park would be free providing the potential for inclusion and access across our whole community.

Why this is important 

Millbrook is a village on the remote Rame peninsular, Cornwall, an area of high social deprivation. There are very few local facilities for young people to give them things to do.

That's why Millbrook has always been more than just a skatepark. Over the years, it's ideally situated in a traffic-free location and it has been, and still is, a place for gathering, a place to gain new skills, learn, develop, build new relationships and improve health and wellbeing 

At Millbrook skaters, scooters and BMX riders have learnt new tricks and honed their skills, friendships have been forged between people from different social backgrounds, that have endured from childhood well into adulthood.

Skateboards have been shared, older skaters have taught younger on how to build their decks, how to fall safely, essential ‘park etiquette’ and how to be kind, compassionate and encouraging. It has inspired many to learn a new discipline, mentor and help others and provided a space for families to have fun together!

But now the skatepark is in jeopardy - it's rusting away and parts have been declared unsafe. It's fast becoming unfit for purpose.

Our young people are excited and aspire to a better skatepark equal to others in other areas of Cornwall and the UK. They would love Millbrook to be brilliant and be on the 'skate safari' map - a series of great skateparks up and down Cornwall and Devon. We think they deserve better and hope you do too.

Why Now?

With the inclusion of skateboarding and BMX riding as Olympic sports and then inspired by the diverse and inclusive Commonwealth Games, the profile has increased, and many more kids have been inspired to get involved and try these sports out. 

New research has also identified the multiple benefits:

“Skateboarding is well known for its physical health benefits, but a recent study has shown that individuals who partake in skating stated that they do so to reduce boredom, provide them with escapism, help them to build confidence and use skateboarding as a coping mechanism for their emotions” Skateboard GB

For BMXers, there is lots of post-Olympic interest but the park is very limited in what it can offer. A new park will offer opportunities to try BMXing, learn new skills and help develop a lifelong love of cycling

PLUS the old park is falling apart - ramps are being removed for health and safety reasons - soon there will be no skate park.

How our project will be United by Birmingham 2022

It's no accident that the Millbrook Skatepark Project really got going following the Commonwealth Games. They've inspired us to celebrate the games by providing facilities for our young people, dream bigger and leaving a local legacy. We're on the journey to bring people together, improve health and wellbeing, help the region grow and succeed, be a catalyst for change and be on the global stage. We are with our community - and we want you to be too.

What would the improvements look like?

We are consulting with several skatepark builders - as well as local young people - and proposed improvements could include; resurfacing of the space with smooth concrete, re-purposing of some existing blocks and the addition of new equipment to create a better layout and more exercise options, and the addition of a transition element (ramp/bowl) to cater for more users.  We have some initial (not final) design ideas from various companies which show the potential the space holds. The final improvements we can make will depend on the budget we raise. 

Costs

Estimates range from at least £175k to £200k - possibly more! But we think it’s important to go for to get the best possible space for all the community to enjoy - as this is a once in a lifetime opportunity.

Our bigger vision

 We also have a bigger vision for the park - as well as opportunities for the young and old people in our area to engage in sports activity, there will be many related cultural opportunities; in the long run, we want to grow the community to be able to provide events, workshops, equipment-hire, art-related activities, photography, film making and fashion. In particular we want to foster an exciting and positive skate and BMX culture that gives young people the opportunity to learn and positively engage with the sports and build new lifelong relationships.  We'll encourage social action and want to appoint ‘skatepark ambassadors’ who will take ownership of ensuring the skatepark is vibrant and well used. The opportunities for developing new skills across our community are huge!

Progress So Far 

We have been encouraged by Millbrook Parish Council to progress with the project and have been fundraising locally. Our amazing community has helped us raise over £5000.00 from various events, including skate competitions, film nights, pizza stalls as well as sponsorship events and business support, which is incredible and as a volunteer group we are very thankful for the support that has already been provided. 

Co-design with young people

We are also keen to get young people - bikers and skaters - involved in the development, build and design of the park and have held events where they've been able to give us their ideas on initial concepts and draw out their ideas for how the park should be. We have BMX and skaters on our management board and steering group to ensure we get their feedback at every stage.

What will we do with this money?

This funding is for Phase 1 - and will help cover feasibility studies and reports as well as some initial work. We are talking to funders and the local authorities and making grant applications, to raise £175,000.00 and develop a concrete park that our community can be proud of within 2 years.

Why support our crowdfund?

With your support, we can validate our idea and prove that the community wants this to happen. The funds raised can be match funded by organisations like Sport England - doubling our money. So your money and support are vital!

If you would like more information, have ideas or can help in any way, please do get

in touch.

www.millbrookskatepark.co.uk
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https://millbrookskatepark.co.uk

https://primeskatepark.com

https://elliotbrownwatches.com

https://www.kingsandgin.com

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