New skate park opens in Sydney’s northern beaches 

Launching a new $400,000 skate park at Lionel Watts Reserve in the Sydney suburb of Frenchs Forest, Northern Beaches Council Mayor Michael Regan has advised that the site is part of the Council’s commitment to provide a high quality sporting precinct for the community.

Mayor Regan advised “I’m really excited about this project – it is a great example of how Council and community can work together to get a great outcome.

“We engaged young people from the outset to help co-design the new facility, we ran workshops to get their ideas and they helped tweak the final designs. It was fantastic to have their input.

Local Davidson High student Tommy Cummings was asked to be part of the design process and was 'like a kid in a candy shop' when the park opened earlier this week.

Cummings cadvised "it feels great to know I had a personal involvement, not many people can say that. My aim was to make the (skate) park fun for everyone, and the feedback from skaters has been very positive.

"I really enjoyed helping out, it was good to contribute to our local community."

Mayor Regan added: “With the all-inclusive playground to follow, Lionel Watts is fast becoming a sporting and social hub for this area.

“I would also like to thank the former Warringah Councillors who helped shape this project before amalgamation. Initially it was a masterplan to allow synthetic fields and expansion. To see what the precinct has grown into is very satisfying.”

Standout features of the innovative flow style skate park include a ‘Taco’ in the north west corner to provide extra elevation for riders and a ‘China Bank’, which is modelled on a globally recognised skate location in San Francisco.

The skate park, which also boasts ramped edges and a raised central section, will be shared by BMX riders, scooter riders and skaters, with riders from beginner to advanced standards welcome to use the community facility.

Part of the Glen Street Open Space Landscape Masterplan, it follows the unveiling of new multi-use synthetic fields in July at the same venue. An all-inclusive children’s playground is also due for completion later this year.

The skate park is the ninth operating on the Northern Beaches, with skate facilities also at Manly Vale, Terrey Hills, North Manly, Frenchs Forest, Avalon, Mona Vale, Cromer and Forestville.

Image: Tommy Cummings (centre) with Northern Beaches Council Mayor Michael Regan.