Council seeks comments for Braidwood skate park

Ollies, nosegrinds and tailslides may soon be regular occurrences for skateboarders of Braidwood, with community feedback being sought for a potential skate park in the town.

Separate designs have been prepared for two locations. One is at the Braidwood Recreation Ground, adjacent to the existing tennis court along Araluen Street and Recreation Ground Creek. The second is at Bicentennial Park on McKellar Street.

There has been much debate and at least one petition on the preferred location, with plans to put the skate park at the Recreation Ground initially rejected by skate park supporters.

In April this year, a pre-design workshop was held for the community to share its thoughts on the design of the Braidwood skate park, which includes a multi-discipline low-level transition style facility with some fundamental street style obstacles.

The council has appointed Convic, a global skate park and youth space design company, to design the skate park.

“Convic will work with the community and develop a design that will be appreciated by the park users,” a QPRC spokesperson said.

“We’d like the community’s comments on the preferred design and location.

“The construction of the skate park is not currently funded and we will explore funding opportunities once a preferred design and location are selected,” the spokesperson said.

The skate park draft concept report says the facility will cater for beginner to intermediate skill levels.

“Standout features favoured by community members were low-level transition elements such as mini ramps, volcanos, blends and rollovers,” the report says.

Interest in future competitions and skateboarding workshops was also highlighted as desirable.

The skate park will cater for BMX riders, scooters, and roller-skaters, as well as an area for those wishing to spectate.

The skate park is also expected to reflect the central theme of gold mines and granite for which Braidwood is well known for. The proposal is for large granite rocks to be integrated into spectating zones, with the use of yellow coloured concrete, representing ‘gold veins’ for the skating zones.

If the skate park goes ahead at the Braidwood Recreation Ground, it will join recent upgrades there which include a new BMX track as well as basketball and netball courts, which were completed in 2017.

Further works are planned for the Recreation Ground, including improvements to the site’s drainage and extension of fields where work has been undertaken to remove the willow and other woody weeds choking the drains.

Concept designs for the skate park are open for comment on the Queanbeyan-Palerang Regional Council (QPRC) website from now until 17 October.

Once feedback on the proposal has been received, the conceptual design will be further developed to reflect the community’s input and suit the confirmed site.

The skate park designs are available for viewing on the QPRC website.