TEENAGERS have helped to draw up a community play scheme costing nearly £100,000 to provide a skateboard park and basketball area.When youngsters were spotted skateboarding on the primary school playground in Grundisburgh, near Woodbridge, they told the parish council there was nowhere for them to practise their sport.

TEENAGERS have helped to draw up a community play scheme costing nearly £100,000 to provide a skateboard park and basketball area.

When youngsters were spotted skateboarding on the primary school playground in Grundisburgh, near Woodbridge, they told the parish council there was nowhere for them to practise their sport.

They obtained more than 300 signatures for a petition asking the council to provide a skateboard park and now a major scheme has been unveiled to revamp facilities on the playing field in Ipswich Road.

The aim is to expand and upgrade the existing children's play area and to build an adjoining skate park and basketball practice area.

The scheme will cost £95,350 and the parish council, which is earmarking a grant of £3,000, will apply to the National Lottery Community Fund for a grant of £61,977, ENTrust for £5,000 and the county council and the National Playing Fields Association for £2,000 each.

Four boys have joined representatives of the parish council, parents and Canon Norman Davis on a steering committee to spearhead the project.

The skate park will only be open to members of a newly-formed club and a durable, quiet surface has been chosen.

Research showed more than 80 boys and girls from Grundisburgh and the surrounding villages either skateboard or ride BMX bicycles and they are attracted to the sports because they can perform without adult supervision.

Committee member, John Ager, said: ''Despite the problems experienced in other skate parks we are confident that, with proper management and controls, a skate park can operate safely and without causing nuisance to others.''

A public meeting will be held in the village hall on February 21 at 7.30pm.