A newly opened street plaza style skate park at Victoria Park is already proving a huge hit with the local community, with riders describing it as one of the best facilities of its kind in the UK.
The park has quickly attracted large numbers of skateboarders, BMX riders, scooter users and roller skaters since opening its gates.
The facility forms part of Swansea Council’s £3 million investment in wheeled sports across the city, alongside improvements at the Phoenix Centre in Townhill and Mynydd Newydd in Penlan.
Local skateboarder Martin Jones, who has been skating for more than 30 years, believes the new park is among the very best he has experienced.
He said: “Swansea Council’s investment is fantastic and Victoria Park is the jewel in the crown. We’ve been waiting for this because Victoria Park is the hub of skateboarding in Swansea. I’ve skated parks all over the UK and abroad, and this is up there with the best. It’s got everything street skaters want.”
The new park has also been welcomed by Celeste Pepper, who moved to Swansea because of its outdoor lifestyle.
She said: “I came to Swansea for the surf and skating scene and having this new facility is amazing. It’s top notch. It’s only just opened but it’s already incredibly popular. I’ve been here every day since it opened. It’s great to see this investment.”
Jason Thomas said the new facility is already bringing together people of all ages and abilities.
He said: “The range of people using it, from kids to adults, on skateboards, scooters, BMXs and roller skates, is awesome to see. It’s brilliant for the community and fantastic that there are more facilities ready, being built and planned across Swansea.”
The Victoria Park development is part of a wider programme of investment in wheeled sports across Swansea.
Following improvements at Coed Bach in Pontarddulais and Melin Mynach in Gorseinon, more new and upgraded facilities are planned across the city, with the aim of ensuring most residents are within two miles of an improved place to skate, ride or roll.
