New skatepark to be officially opened

WOODBRIDGE'S new �130,000 skatepark will be officially opened on Saturday - with a chance for youngsters to show off their skills.

The opening event will take place at noon at the fixed ramp skatepark, next to Deben Swimming Pool, and will be attended by some of the people whose hard work and determination helped to make it a reality.

As part of the celebration, skateboarders and BMX riders of all ages and abilities are being encouraged to show off their talents and potentially win a whole host of goodies in a competition.

“Woodbridge skatepark has been open to members of the public for just over a month now, and this celebratory event will give people an opportunity to appreciate what has been achieved here, as well as giving talented boarders and BMXers the chance to wow the crowd and the judges,” said Suffolk Coastal cabinet member Doreen Savage.

“I look forward to meeting the cream of our local BMXers and skateboarders, seeing what they can do and finding out what they think of the skatepark.

“Now that it has been built, it is up to them to make the most of it and the council will work with them to ensure that it remains a popular and exciting venue for years to come.

“The next skatepark project to be built is on Orwell Green in Felixstowe.

“Suffolk Coastal has recently gained funding from the Play Builder scheme which will bring this much-needed and long-awaited facility to Felixstowe's young people.

“Once this is completed the young people of Suffolk Coastal will have many opportunities to skate, ride and have fun across the district, with the skatepark in Framlingham, the new Woodbridge skatepark and the park planned for Felixstowe to choose from.”

At the event, councillor Stephen Burroughes, Mayor of Woodbridge Les Binns, and Malcolm Knapp from the Just 42 youth group, will speak about the skatepark's beginnings and their hopes for the future.

Members of the 3Bs (boarders, BMXers and bladers) group, young people who use the skatepark and are helping the council to run it, will then cut the ribbon to officially it.

Funding for the facility has come from bodies including Suffolk Coastal, Woodbridge Town Council, Sport England, SET, Awards for All, Woodbridge Community Council, the Suffolk Coastal Community Safety Partnership, Market Towns Initiative, the County's Regeneration Fund, Community Champions, Ganzoni Trust, Woodbridge School and fundraising.

The competition will take place from 11.30am to noon. There will be a skateboarding category, judged by some of the skatepark's experienced supervisors, and a BMXing category.

Prizes have been donated by EdgeRiders, Black Sheep, Wahoo and ADB Skate, and include T-shirts, a skateboard deck and Evil Skater models.