News / Victoria Park
First purpose-built skatepark in decades opens in south Bristol
Ain’t no Sunshine by Bill Withers plays at the newly-opened Victoria Park skatepark on Saturday afternoon.
It’s an apt song as the earlier sunshine quickly gives way to rain that fails to deter the happy kids on scooters, who whizz effortlessly down and round the smooth new ramps while their parents look on from under umbrellas.
Older skaters and BMXers decide to call it a day, taking a moment to watch the children in action on the new skatepark that is the culmination of years of work and a major fundraising drive.
is needed now More than ever
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.
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 raised a further £24,000.
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The skater and filmmaker has said the project “represents the first accessible modern built-for-purpose skatepark to have been built in Bristol for over 20 years”.
Speaking to Bristol24/7 on Sunday, Daniel said: “The park opened on Friday and people have been down there ever since. It’s great, it’s exactly what we’d hoped for and much more.
“There are loads of different features, plenty for all different age ranges, different disciplines, scooters, skateboards, bikes. Whatever it is you want to do, you can go down there and find something to enjoy.”
He added: “It couldn’t have happened without the support of the local community. The fundraising was down to the skate and wheeled sport scene realising there was a want and a need for new facilities and putting their hands in their pockets to make it happen
“Wheelscape have gone so far above and beyond to make this park much better than the budget would allow. They have really pushed the boat out on this to give Bristol the facility that it needs.
“It’s a facility that will be there for years to come.”
The new site has been designed by Wheelscape, a skatepark construction company based in BS3, and includes a new ramp and bowl, a hip, a flat bank and a wall stall that there are plans to cover with murals.
Rain failed to dampen the enthusiasm of children on their scooters on Saturday afternoon
A plaque on the side of the new skatepark is engraved with ‘Devine Forever – Dawgs for life’ to commemorate much-missed skater Ben Devine
All photos: Ellie Pipe
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