Skatepark in line for upgrade (+video)

Skater Treston Stokes-Ngatokorua, 17, thinks Rotorua’s main skatepark is in desperate need of an upgrade. Photo / Stephen Parker

The Rotorua Lakes Council has signalled its intention to upgrade the city's main skatepark, as skaters claim neglected equipment poses safety risks and keeps people away.

Councillors have agreed to undertake community consultation on the future of the Ranolf St skatepark, after hearing submissions from skaters pleading for it to be improved.

The council will work with users to develop designs for an upgrade, and did not rule out the possibility of a new location for the park.

However, it stopped short of guaranteeing funding for the project.

Councillor Charles Sturt, the council's portfolio lead for sports and recreation, suggested some form of joint funding would be needed for any upgrades.

Last week the Rotorua Daily Post was given a tour of the park by one of the skaters who made a submission.

Treston Stokes-Ngatokorua, 17, pointed out a number of issues he said posed risks for park users, including rough concrete, loose bolts, and metal ramps which had been repaired with uneven planks of wood.

Often, he said, it was left up to park users to fix these problems.

"We have to come down here with our screwdrivers and sort it out."

Mitchell Law, 21, blamed the park's state of disrepair for keeping users away.

"Skating has died out in Rotorua over the past year as the park has got worse," he said.

The park received its last significant upgrade in 2006.

Garry Page, the council's open spaces operations lead, said the skatepark was checked for maintenance every two weeks, with "any breakages or other work required being attended to promptly".

He said there was no record of public complaints about the skatepark in the last year, and encouraged skaters to let the council know of any issues.

Mr Stokes-Ngatokorua said he planned to start his own fundraising campaign for upgrades to the park.

Both he and Mr Law believed improving the park would make skaters from around the country more likely to visit Rotorua.

Although councillors had discussed the possibility of moving the inner-city skatepark to a new location, Mr Sturt said he would prefer to see the park upgraded, with the help of a funding partner. "The beauty of that skatepark is everyone can see it ... and it's close to city services."

Mr Page said the project's timing was yet to be finalised.