Young people at the heart of a big project to create a new skateboard park are helping to sell £5 pints of concrete to achieve their aim.
They will need many pints to replace the current skatepark in King George V recreation ground at Twyford. It was built almost 20 years ago and now needs repairs and renovation.
The skaters, BMX bike enthusiasts and scooter riders met Maverick, the skatepark contractors, to give their views on the £200,000 scheme.
A Twyford Parish Council spokesperson said: “The users said they wanted a tool station so when their scooters and skateboards break they can repair them and also plenty of benches.
“So we started a Crowdfunder page jointly with the users to raise money for extras like the tool station. We started with a target of £5000 and it has done really well, we had £9,499 on Tuesday (July 30). The young people are really engaged.
“At the Twyford Beer Festival they got on stage to ask everyone to buy them a pint of concrete. People loved the idea.
“The users made the same appeal at the Donkey Derby. They have worked really hard.”
With the help of local company Phoxy Design there are stylish Twyford Skatepark hats, tee shirts, tote bags and hoodies to buy, with a percentage going to buy the extras for the skatepark.
Fundraising is going so well that sights are being raised. There are discussions going on about a new tarmac area in the skatepark and also about workshops in local primary schools about skateboarding and scootering.
“We want the whole village to embrace the scheme. We want to create awareness about this exciting project,” added the spokesperson.
A young student at The Piggott School, Wargrave worked with Twyford artist Sally Castle to design a skatepark logo.
It’s hoped the skatepark design will be finished this summer and building work will start before Christmas. The parish council has underwritten the cost of the skatepark which will be free to use.
The parish council is speaking to Sport England about match funding. Haines Hill Charitable Trust has given £2000 and Ruscombe Parish Council £3000. Piggott School held a non uniform day and cake sale with a contribution from that going to the skatepark.
More details are by visiting: http://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/twyford-skatepark-project#start http://
