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34K Skateboard Park Opens In Village Field |
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Written by Stuart Wodledge
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Thursday, 02 November 2006 |
£34K SKATEBOARD PARK OPENS IN VILLAGE FIELD
BY STUART WOLEDGE
15:00 - 27 October 2006
The culmination of three years' hard work finally paid off on Monday when a new skateboard park was opened in Staplehurst.
The £34,000 project saw four new ramps and a grind rail unveiled at a ceremony attended by Cllr Eric Hotson of Kent County Council and Cllr Richard Lusty of Maidstone Borough Council.
Youngsters have wasted no time in making use of the new attraction in Jubilee Field. According to Elaine Downton, of Offens Drive, who helped oversee the project, the ramps have been up for two weeks now and have already been well used.
She said: "As a group we all worked very hard in raising the funds and we're really pleased that so many youngsters have been using the equipment already."
Mrs Downton said Staplehurst was crying out for facilities for youngsters and she hopes people in the surrounding villages will also come down and make the most of the new ramps.
"I'm sure it will be well used," she said.
"It's in the middle of a village that's surrounded by lots of smaller villages and other youngsters from the area are welcome to come and use the equipment."
To raise money the youngsters held stalls at the village carnival and also approached local groups, organisations and businesses for donations.
Their fundraising efforts were matched with a £1,000 grant from Staplehurst Parish Council, and contributions were also made by Cllrs Hotson and Lusty. But she said a massive boost came by way of a £30,000 Local Authority Business Growth Incentive grant from Maidstone Borough Council (MBC) in May.
And news that a further £26,000 is being made available for phase two of the project by MBC has received a warm welcome from Mrs Downton.
She said: "This is great news for us. It means that we can plan for phase two of the project. That will involve a new pathway leading up to the equipment. It will also mean more ramps and when it's finished it will be nearly twice the size that it is at the moment."
Cllr Brian Moss, borough council member for Leisure and Culture, said: "Maidstone Council recognises the need of young people in the community, and this is an excellent scheme which will really benefit the youngsters of Staplehurst.
"The skate park is already being well used, and with even more equipment on the way, is set to get even better."
Mrs Downton paid tribute to everyone involved in turning the idea into reality.
She said they hope to unveil the improvements in the spring of 2007. |
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Last Updated ( Tuesday, 25 September 2007 )
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