The Moututawa Avalon skatepark replaced the existing Melling Skatepark at the RiverLink on Block Road, back in mid-December. Photo: Hutt City Council / Facebook
Lower Hutt's mayor said a new skatepark has been so popular, it has managed to garner more people than its previous location.
The Moututawa Avalon skatepark replaced the existing Melling Skatepark at the RiverLink on Block Road, back in mid-December.
Saturday it finally had its official community day after the opening to celebrate its launch was delayed after a five-year-old boy drowned in a duck pond at Avalon Park.
The celebrations included workshops on how to skate, trick demonstrations and time for everyone to skate together.
A survey to move the park showed 85 percent of the 200 respondents were in support of it.
Mayor Campbell Barry said consulting with skaters and mana whenua has given the park a thumbs up from the public.
The new park has six different skate zones including a mini bowl, five quarter pipes, a mix of rails, curbs and pole jams and a five-sided fun box with a ledge. Photo: Hutt City Council / Facebook
"I think the design of this park and making sure that we actually included skaters and others in that process has meant there's been a real ownership and excitement. I feel like it's made a bit of a difference and also the wider park itself where we already have so many people utilising what is one of the regions best parks, playgrounds a few meters away," Barry said.
He said there had been lots of great feedback from the community and across the Wellington region.
"I think people are really amazed at the design itself. There's been a lot of thought and care that's gone into that ... But being able to get the community involved into that process, I think we've reaped the rewards of that as well," Barry said.
The new park has six different skate zones including a mini bowl, five quarter pipes, a mix of rails, curbs and pole jams and a five-sided fun box with a ledge.
Convic lead designer Simon Bogalo. Photo: Jazlyn Whales
Convic lead designer Simon Bogalo said this new skatepark had been a long time coming for the area.
"All these things are kinda standard obstacles but really perfectly detailed, perfect dimensions, heights. You'll see a lot of space in the facilities so run up space to obstacles and roll away space is critical to make sure that you can get ready, there's safe space around obstacles so you're not running into people and colliding and all that type of thing," Bogalo said.
Mana whenua gifted the name Motutawa Skatepark in recognition of the park area once being the location of Motutawa Pā.
They also contributed to the design which included artworks by Te Āti Awa Taranaki Whānui, and the use of niho taniwha, patterns to symbolise Ngake the taniwha, and also reflect the concept of manaakitanga.
Mana Whenua gifted the name Motutawa Skatepark in recognition of the park area once being the location of Motutawa Pā. Photo: Hutt City Council / Facebook
Bogalo - who currently lives in Australia - has spent 11 years designing skate parks, although three of those have been in New Zealand.
"It's a lot smoother than a lot of the old parks in New Zealand. A lot of the parks at the moment are kind of around that 20-plus year age span, where they're getting to the end of their life span. They're super rough, when you fall you get grazes and that kinda thing," Bogalo said.
Lower Hutt Mayor Campbell Barry. Photo: Jazlyn Whales
The different zones that the new skatepark had helped to cater to all levels of skaters, Bogalo said.
It felt amazing to be able to ride on the skatepark he helped bring to life, he said.
"It gives me little shivers, honestly it makes me so happy just first of all turning up and seeing it... it's just an overwhelming feeling of happiness and really stoked to be here. Trying to test out the obstacles everything that you have in your mind and dream up, testing if it works, if you've got it right," Bogalo said.
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