Skaters drop in on Sydney city

Sydney skaters are waging a campaign to build a skate park built in Surry Hills’ Prince Alfred Park, starting online.

A Facebook group called ‘Skateboard Park for Sydney City’, created by veteran skate enthusiast John Fox Williamson, has already reached over 480 members in just a few weeks.

Following the Road and Traffic Authority’s (RTA) rejection of a possible site in Woolloomooloo, the group is now turning its attention to Prince Alfred Park, which was pitched for a skate park three years ago.

“Facebook is a great way to stay in contact with American pro-skaters as they want to keep the World Cup happening in Sydney. We need a proper sized park that can hold these events,” said Williamson, who helped design the Bondi Beach skate bowl.

“It is like any sport – if you don’t provide facilities, then we will be skating on the streets.”

Calls by Sydney City Councillor Shayne Mallard to look into revitalising the empty RTA-owned lot on William Street sparked passionate discussions on online forums.

“The online forums and blogs are tremendous as they demonstrate that the city is not connecting with, by and large, young people,” said Cr Mallard.

Williamson and his co-campaigners are petitioning for action in the hope that Prince Alfred will be reassessed. He used the Billabong Invitational skateboarding competition at World Square on June 27 to gather thousands of signitures.

Professional Australian skateboarder Corbin Harris hosted the Billabong event, and agrees there is a need for an inner city skate park: “We don’t have any facilities in NSW compared to Melbourne and Brisbane.”

City Councillor Chris Harris is outraged that the original proposal for a Prince Alfred skate park collapsed. He insists that it fulfills the requirements in the ‘Youth and Skate Facility Needs Study’ undertaken by the City of Sydney Council in 2006. These include the co-location with other facilities and accessibility to public transport.

“Clover Moore and her team blocked the plans for the skate park at Prince Alfred due to complaints from residents, even though the location would have co-located facilities for young people with the swimming pool as well as one of the best used basketball courts in Sydney,” he said.

Williamson and his Facebook group also defend the positioning of Prince Alfred Park.

“We have $1.5 million for the skate park and all the amenities are there such as shade, lighting, toilets and major public transport including Central railway station. The more facilities that are not there and need to be built, the more that comes out of the budget for the whole facility,” Williamson said.

According to the Youth and Skate Facility Needs Study, ‘The need for skate facilities has emerged as increasing numbers of young people are skating in public plazas particularly in the CBD area’.

Work on the revised Prince Alfred Park is set to commence next year. The major upgrade includes improving access, the basketball courts, tennis courts, upgrading the pool facility and children’s play areas, but no skate park.

According to a Council report, initial plans for a skate facility in Prince Alfred Park severely reduced open space in the park.

by Lauren Fitzpatrick