Sydney board riders welcome city’s newest ramp

Skateboarders have given the thumbs up to Sydney’s newest skate ramp ahead of a study and consultation process to determine the best sites for future facilities.

Opened to coincide with the recent school holidays, the $130,000 Waterloo Oval ramp and 1.5 metre-high half pipe is an addition to the Fernside Skate Park.

Future facilities and locations for new sites are currently the subject of a tender process that will involve surveys of skaters and their preferred locations, as well as neighbouring businesses and residents.

Designed by Fernside creator, Chad Ford, and built by Hargraves Landscapes, the new 11-metre x 11-metre concrete ramp helped put the ‘stoke’ in a ‘skate jam’ staged by the Sydney Skateboard Association and Krew Clothing.

Commenting on the new feaure, skater Ben Morris explained “we are stoked with the new ramp (it’s) been built really well – sometimes in these tenders the cheapest bidder wins the job and they’re not the right person to do it, but this one is great.”

Sydney Lord Mayor Clover Moore said the City of Sydney was eager to cater for as many sports and activities as possible in the densely-populated inner city, adding “it’s great to see this much-loved and much-used ramp getting a makeover.

“The number of people using our skate facilities in Waterloo, Redfern, Surry Hills and Glebe show how popular this sport is in the inner city.

“Work will soon begin to survey potential sites for more skateboarding infrastructure. We will be looking for sites that are safe, close to public transport and with minimal negative impact on businesses and residents.”

To be decided in the coming weeks, the tender-winner will have 12 weeks to submit their report, with final recommendations put to Council by year’s end.

Fernside, a 920 metre2 concrete skate park, was the first of its kind in Sydney when it opened in mid-2006, about six months after a half pipe at Federal Park in Annandale.

A small skate plaza opened at Redfern Oval in 2008 and was followed by a small skate bowl in Eddie Ward Park in Surry Hills in 2009.

21st October 2009 - SYDNEY CONSIDERING NEW SKATE PARK