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They successfully secured £50,000 Peterborough Youth Bank funding at
a Dragons' Den-style event at Peterborough Town Hall which was match
funded by section 106 money.
Sam
Skinner (17), Matthew Wood (17), and Lewis Ellington (13),
interviewed students from Peterborough Regional College and
Stanground Community College to find out what they wanted the skate
park to look like. Their ideas were then used in the design of the
skate park.
The old
equipment was removed and replaced with new concrete ramps suitable
for BMX bikes, skateboards and inline skates. The money also paid
for landscaping of the area. The city council's city services
managed the project.
The skate
park was launched by Youth MP Lorna
Cartledge. Beforehand young people will talk about how the skate
park project evolved.
Sam said:
“We spoke to other young people and we all agreed that we could make
more use of the park. We all wanted some shelter and better lighting
and better skate ramps and goal posts. It's taken a lot of work and
we've been to lots of meetings, but it's all been worth it and it's
paid off."
Councillor
Sheila Scott, cabinet member for children's services, said: "This
project is a great example of what young people can achieve when
they set their minds to it. These two rival groups of young people
got together and decided they wanted to make more use of their local
park and we can now see the fruits of their labour.
"Well done
to all the young people involved. I hope they enjoy using the new
facilities." Judith Neal, community engagement officer in
Peterborough City Council's city services, said: "We had section 106
funding to spend in the Stanground area and were looking to spend it
on the skatepark. As the young people were successful in obtaining
match funding it meant we could install a bigger and better
skatepark.
"The young
people’s involvement has been fantastic and having their input with
the design has meant they have what they wanted."
October 2010 -
Peterborough UK Community Website
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