Crowborough’s skate park is to more than double after a campaign by young skateboarders.
Community group Artytime has put in plans for an extension to the Jarvis Brook skatepark – almost two years after successfully raising more than £10,000.
The extension is intended to be used not just by skateboarders but also for BMXs, rollerblading, scooting and adaptive skating.
Its application, written with skatepark design company Betongpark, says: “The existing skatepark is nearing the end of its life following years of erosion and has become a financial burden for the council to repair.
“Local users have campaigned for a new and improved skatepark that can serve the local community.
“A new concrete addition to the existing skatepark will provide a more modern, inclusive and safe riding facility for local wheeled sports participants.
“An important consideration was to reduce the risk of Anti-Social Behaviour (ASB) and instead promote positive social behaviour.
“To combat ASB we took care to create an open space full of vantage points with clear lines of vision across the site, void of secluded spaces. Concrete will be used throughout, removing the risk of arson.
“To promote positive social interactions we have proposed outward facing meeting points within the skatepark’s activity zones while making the most use of the existing uplifting greenery.
“Clear lines of sight have been ensured around the space to increase the feeling of safety for users.”
Artytime has run summer activities at the existing skate park, including a street art workshop.
The money it raised in 2023 was to pay for the plans to be drawn up for the skatepark – and to extend a scrap store at the site.
The plans for the scrap store were submitted in December 2023 and were approved in April 2024.
The crowdfunder said: “Our fund writer has found a potential capital fund that, if successful, will enable us to not only increase the skate park but also the Artytime scrap store too.
“This will enable us to provide a sustainable youth club venue in the evenings.
“It would also become an ideal venue for a holiday club in the summer and a fun way of teaching the importance of recycling, reusing and repurposing items that could end up in landfill.”
