News / lifestyle
Bristol’s first new skatepark in decades to open
Bristol will get its first modern purpose-built skatepark in over 20 years at the end of February.
Skater Daniel Higginson first launched a fundraiser to revamp Victoria Park skatepark in 2022, but had hopes to get Bristol’s “forgotten skatepark” back up and running years before then.
Built in 2005, the skatepark was “instantly forgotten” according to users – with no mention of the space on the council’s website or in the UK skatepark directory.
is needed now More than ever
Bristol filmmaker and skater Daniel Higginson has been campaigning for a new skatepark in Victoria Park for nearly ten years – photo: Tom Sparey
But now Daniel, who has been visiting the new skatepark while it is being constructed “almost every day”, said it “represents the first accessible modern built-for-purpose skatepark to have been built in Bristol for over 20 years”.
The filmmaker and skater moved to Bristol in 2003 for university and has made it his mission over the last few years to transform the dilapidated skatepark in south Bristol.
Working with a friend’s mum, Daniel was able to raise £150,000 for the project through various grant applications, public funding and Community Infrastructure Levies. A public fundraising campaign was also able to raise around £23,000.
The new site was designed by Wheelscape, a skatepark construction company based in Bristol, and will have a new ramp and bowl, a hip, a flat bank and a wall stall that they hope to cover with murals.
The new purpose-built skatepark has been designed by Wheelscape, a Bristol-based campaigning group that works to improve alternative sports facilities across the UK – image: Wheelscape
The new site will be the first completely new skatepark in Bristol in over 20 years – image: Wheelscape
“Wheelscape put together a really advanced proposal within our budget,” said Daniel. “It’s run by a local skater so it was in his interest to make it as good as possible.”
Daniel said the public support for the proposals shows how much of a demand there is for a new accessible permanent skatepark in Bristol.
“Because it was partly funded by the public, people are very invested in it,” Daniel told Bristol24/7.
“Kids have done fundraisers for it. One kid cycled to Bath and back to fundraise. From my personal perspective, there is a need for it, but then when you put it out to the public and it gets back it shows there’s a massive demand.”
Victoria Park skatepark fell into disrepair years ago and since then campaigners have been working to get it replaced – photo: Betty Woolerton
Bristol has several skate spots which are pivotal to the city’s thriving skate scene – including on Dean Lane, St George Wheelpark and the M32 skatepark.
But some have been neglected and in need of repair, requiring huge investment, which the council often isn’t able to provide.
Elevate, a local campaign group, is looking to revamp St George’s Skatepark, which was built in 1982 and has had a number of repairs since.
The campaign was backed by mayor Marvin Rees in March 2022 and it was projected to cost £1.5m but work has yet to start on the park.
Victoria Park skatepark will open to the public at the end of the month.
Main photo: Wheelscape
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