Excitement is ramping up for this weekend’s official opening of the new Walla Street Skate Park.
A number of local riders who have been involved in the community consultation process since 2020 were this week given a first look at the new facility.
The skate park, which will open on Saturday 25 June, has undergone a multi-million-dollar upgrade and is now a modern wheeled facility suitable for all levels of experience.
Bundaberg Regional Council Sport and Recreation portfolio spokesperson Cr Vince Habermann said the upgraded facility is a fantastic addition to the sporting facilities available to the Bundaberg community.
“Community consultation was undertaken with both the community as well as specialists to help provide ideas to develop this modern facility here at Walla Street,” Cr Habermann said.
“The new park includes a beginner’s bowl, a street section which is the intermediate section and also an advanced section which is for the competitors.
“This whole park is very user-friendly and includes shelters, lights that will be turned off around 10 pm each night, a new toilet block and water bubblers.”
Local rider and former professional BMX star Jack Fahey is one of the locals who have actively participated in consultation on the project over a number of years.
He had the opportunity to test out the new park earlier this week, giving it the tick of approval.
“There has been a huge improvement from the old skate park to this new one as it is a lot more technical and modern and it is great fun,” Jack said.
“Now that there is undercover seating, toilets and water bubblers as well as nice landscaping, it just sets the place off, and it is nice to be down here.”
Jack said it was great to see the skate park completed to bring the park to life.
“It was a long process from start to finish, but we gave input including different ideas that I had from a range of experiences within my career, and other local riders also put their ideas in and now these ideas have come to life,” Jack said.
“There is a big bowl for a lot of the more experienced riders as it is a lot more technical with a couple of really big quarter pipes which are your up and down ramps and then we also have a smaller bowl which is a lot of fun, and probably one of my favourite features here, for anyone who does not want to get involved in the bigger sort of stuff.
“We then have the street plaza which is huge and great for street riders.
“It is suitable for all ages, with something for everyone from the younger riders through to the experienced riders.”
Jack said it is fantastic to see the park completed, and he is looking forward to it officially opening this weekend.
“It doesn’t really feel real that we actually have it,” he said.
“Seeing it in person is one thing, but then seeing it here right now, puts a whole new feel on it.”
Activities galore for skate park opening
The Walla Street skate park will officially be opened this Saturday 25 June which also marks the start of the school holidays.
A number of activities will be underway from 8 am, with the official opening commencing at 10 am.
The opening will feature action sports demonstrations and learn-to-skateboard workshops from Fastplant Skateboarding along with famed skateboard athletes in attendance.
This is a free event.
The Central Park upgrade is supported by the Queensland Government’s Works for Queensland Program.
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