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Former BMX Champion and professional skateboarder Mike Pardon has given
his thumbs up to a new extreme sports facility at Alexandra Park,
Newtown, Wigan which will be formerly opened on Monday 2nd July.
The Mayor of Wigan, Councillor John O’Brien, will officially open the
new multi-use facility at 6.45pm. Skateboard lovers, BMX enthusiasts,
bladers and local residents are all invited to attend the opening event
and to witness a world class BMX display by Mike.
The construction of ‘Alexandra Skate Park’ has been co-ordinated by
Wigan Leisure and Culture Trust, as part of Wigan Borough’s Extreme
Sports Strategy. The facility has cost £122,000 to build thanks to
£99,000 from SRB6 (see notes); £10,000 provided by local councillors
through their Brighter Borough money, and £13,000 of support from Wigan
Leisure and Culture Trust.
Mike Pardon, who as well as being a former British champion is the only
fully qualified BMX and Skateboard coach in the UK, said, “Alexandra
Park’s new facility is really well designed and appeals to both skaters
and bikers. Full marks to Wigan Leisure and Culture Trust and Wigan
Council for recognising the need for such a skatepark. With BMX racing
now a full Olympic sport in 2008, and the proven benefits of action
sports as an aid to learning, it can’t be long before the borough
produces a new generation of champions.”
The new facility has the very latest extreme sports equipment including:
a mini-ramp, a Wembley gap, a flatbank, a quarter-pipe, a jumpbox, a
stepped grind-box, a grind box, a driveway, a hipped flatbank, and a
hipped quarter-pipe.
David Owen, Parks Community Liaison Officer for Wigan Leisure and
Culture Trust, said, ”This new facility has only been open for a few
weeks but is already being really well used. It is now a great place
skating, BMXing and blading; all exciting, invigorating and social
activities. We hope that more people will be encouraged to get active
and enjoy what we have at Alexandra Park; particularly young people as
they are often stuck for a suitable area to enjoy extreme sports.
“I would like to thank local councillors, our Parks Regeneration Team
and the Council’s Environmental Services department for their hard work
to get this project completed and up and running. We have more exciting
plans for Alexandra Park in the future and we would like to develop a
‘Friends Group’ who can help us to achieve Green Flag status for the
park.”
The new facility’s design was influenced by local boarders, bladers and
BMXers who were consulted by Councillor Birch during the Party in the
Park event in 2006. The quality of the skate park has been gratefully
received by local young people.
Avid skateboard enthusiast Matty Andrews, aged 20, said, “I have skated
on many outdoor parks around the North West and I can honestly say that
the one situated in Alexandra Park is one of the best I have skated on.
The delightful combination of transition and street obstacles provides a
variety often unseen in skateparks of its nature.
“It is a much needed facility in the area, and now fellow extreme sports
fans are no longer forced onto the streets in order to peruse the sport
that they love. Previously, me and my fellow friends have been forced to
travel considerable distances in order to find high quality skateparks
like the one situated in Alexandra Park. It’s great we now have such a
skatepark on our doorsteps!”
Wigan Leisure and Culture Trust’s Parks Regeneration Team have indicated
this is only the first Stage of the Extreme Sports Facility and are
currently exploring funding opportunities and are looking for support to
complete Stage Two which will offer more ramps and make the facility one
of the best in the area.
The official opening of ‘Alexandra Skate Park’ takes place at 6.45pm on
Monday 2nd July; all are welcome to attend. Mike Pardon will also be
appearing at the ‘Party in the Park’ event on Saturday 7th July at
Alexandra Park from 12pm to 4pm.
-ends-
NOTES TO EDITORS: For further information on this News Release please
contact Chris Dunbar, Media and Public Relations Manager, on 01942
486937 or at
c.dunbar@wlct.org
SRB6 (Single Regeneration Budget Round 6): The One Stop for Regeneration
programme began in 2000 when Wigan Council was awarded £8million from
Round 6 of the Government’s Single Regeneration Budget (SRB). The
purpose of this programme was to fund improvements and services which
benefit the communities living in Ince, Norley and Worsley Mesnes.
Wigan Leisure and Culture Trust: Wigan Leisure and Culture Trust is a
charitable trust working on behalf of Wigan Council to manage and
support leisure and cultural facilities, initiatives and events for over
300,000 residents in the Wigan Borough. See
www.wlct.org
Getting Wigan Active: Getting Wigan Active is Wigan Leisure and Culture
Trust’s vision to help people across the Wigan Borough to become more
physically, mentally and creatively active . It also aims to increase
community activity and to encourage good citizenship.
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