Skateparks & Spaces

Skateable Spaces Development Toolkit

In July 2000, Skateboard GB were delighted to launch the UK’s first official “Design and Development Guidance for Skateboarding” in partnership with Sport England. This guidance document aimed to support the creation of skateparks and skateable spaces, through advice on design, construction and build. Through 2024, we will be working with skatepark companies to significantly update and expand this resource.

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Guide to Community Organising and Fundraising

The energy and spirit of skateboarding are superpowers for getting amazing things done. But starting organising and empowering your community from scratch and accessing funding can often feel like the biggest challenge, whether it’s financing a new skatepark, enabling free beginners’ sessions or a skateboarding event in your town/city. We will also be reviewing this toolkit through 2024 and looking at a wide range of new written, video and audio assets to support your work alongside in-person events.

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Grassroots Skatespaces

Through 2021 and 2022, Skateboard GB worked in partnership with online mortgage company Habito to support the development of eight innovative and non-traditional skate spaces, all developed and led by their skateboarding communities. These ranges from unique 3-D printed concrete forms in Guildhall Square, Southampton, with the awesome Skate Southampton and international designer Rich Holland; to volunteer-built spaces like the Grove DIY in Dulwich, south London, and Bournbrook DIY, in Selly Oak, Birmingham; to Tram Line Spot, the ‘skate friendly’ public space in central Nottingham.

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Spaces

Skatepark Etiquette

Learn more Download guidance Document

Guidance on skatepark design, DIY and park building

We have produced a Facilities Guide which will cover all elements of design and build.

How to get funding for a skatepark

Funding can come from a number of sources, including private funding from local (or national) businesses and fundraising or from public funding such as the council, Sport England / Sport Wales, National Lottery, landfill grants etc. There are a good list of examples which are included in the Facilities Guide.

How to get a skatepark in your town or city

Getting a skateboard park built in your local area is no easy task and is not just as simple as asking your local council for one – It will usually take months / years for it to all go through.

This guide should help you to take the right direction to getting a park built in your town

  • First form community group – Make sure you include skateboarders (and scooter users and BMX’s – anyone who will use the park), parents, youth workers and the local skate-shop. It’s a good way to show councils, residents and press that you are properly organised and committed to your cause.
  • Create an online platform such as a Facebook page, Instagram page or website, showing what you want to achieve and make sure you get as many followers or people involved as possible.
  • Convince people why there needs to be a skatepark built. You will need to create a presentation of why it’s needed: Focus on keeping people active, the growth of adrenaline sports, the need for facility as there no others around (or only old facilities) etc. You may want to show some examples of what type of skatepark you are wanting to achieve and propose some potential sites where the skatepark could be located, along with associated costs
  • Do some fund-raising. This will show that you are committed to progressing the development of the project. This can be done a variety of ways, but think about holding a skate comp, get the local skate-shop involved, sponsored skaters and bikers, invite the press and councillors. The more publicity you can get, the more support you will find.
  • If you haven’t already you will need to start speaking to the council too and start looking for funding (see below). It is also a good time to start talking to skatepark builders (see info below) – They will have a wealth of knowledge to help you progress the project and can start providing you with designs and budgets.
  • Read the story of the process a group went through to get a Skatepark in Alton

Speaking to your council about skateparks?

The priority is getting the council onside. They’ll most likely be the biggest funder and/or advocate when it goes through planning and/or provide the land and/or rally the public. If it is a public skateparks they’ll certainly have to have agreed to accept liability for its use. So, in short, it can’t really happen without them onside.

Who are the skatepark builders in the UK?

There are various skatepark builders across the UK. The Skateparks Project, lists which skateparks have been built by each builder.