Council buys land for new youth skatepark

Council's commitment to youth in the district provides another major win for young people in Tokoroa with the purchase of the land on Roslin Street next door to the Youth Park and the Indoor Pools for the new Tokoroa skatepark development.

"The land is ideally placed to create a youth recreation hub," said Amanda Hema, Council's Community Group Manager. "Early guidance on models and suitable contractors has been sought from users and the area will cater for carparking which will also assist with parking at the Youth Park facility."

Council consulted on the future of the Tokoroa Skatepark during the Long Term Plan process earlier this year. Council asked the community for feedback on two proposed options; the first being to refurbish the skatepark at its current location and the second was to move the skatepark to the Tokoroa Memorial Sportsground.

"Once again Council has responded to submissions we receive from our community. It is great to see our youth make a submission and engage in the process. And great too to see Council take on board their ideas. Council has promised to involve our youth in the design," said Mayor Neil Sinclair. "We are looking forward to having an exciting youth hub that our community can be proud of."

Feedback was mixed with concerns raised about youth crossing the State Highway to access the park should the facility move to the sportsground mirrored with concern that the current area is not ideally suited for a youth facility.

A suggestion from the Youth Leadership and Advisory Board to purchase the land adjoining the Youth Park and redevelop the skatepark there, creating a recreation hub for youth gained traction with Council. The YLAB submission was strongly supported by youth that the group had consulted with.

Speaking to the submission, member Sina Tolovae said that YLAB believed the site to be ideal for a new skatepark. "It is close to the CBD and to the residential area and has the youth park right next door. A number of skatepark users take younger siblings with them and the Youth Park is somewhere for the younger children to play while the older youth skate."

The recent spruce-up to the existing park was well received as time frames for the development have yet to be finalised and could be a year or more away. Council will liaise relevant user groups as plans unfold.

The current Tokoroa skatepark is nearing the end of its life and changing times mean changes to the types of structures youth expect to see at skateparks. Council had already planned to spend $328,000 on upgrading the skatepark over the coming years. Before spending that money we wanted to ask the community for feedback about rebuilding a new park elsewhere or refurbishing the old park. The cost to build new is estimated to be $340,000, only marginally higher than refurbishment; and building new provides additional opportunities for improved features. Ends: words: 487