If you’re into slides and grinds, lip tricks, or pressure tricks, or maybe you’re a master of all four types of Ollie (and some of their numerous variations), then Harrogate has just the place for you. A brand new skatepark has opened in the Valley Gardens and it’s brill.
And it’s not just for boarders: in-liners, scooters and BMX-ers are welcome too.
Harrogate Borough Council opened the skatepark (and provided most of the £150k funding) in response to requests from local kids for somewhere to hone their skills. But they didn’t just plonk down what they thought the kids would like, they actively engaged the potential users in helping with the design and layout of the park – even copying a skaters’ favourite section of the wall outside the Harrogate International Conference Centre to give them something better to practice on. Well, as of 28 May 2011 that “something better” is well and truly in place.
The official opening took place at 1.00pm – when the Mayor of Harrogate, Cllr Les Ellington, cut the ribbon, and this was followed by a series of competitions for each of the different categories of user.
Here’s what one of the first people to try the new park said:
“Well impressed – took ‘em a while but full marks for the council for providing this fantastic facility 
consultation with skaters was excellent.”
You’ll find lots more comments from users, pictures and info at the Valley Gardens Skatepark Facebook page.
Other parties involved in the project were local building developers, the Harrogate District Community Safety Partnership, North Yorkshire County Council’s Connecting Youth Culture, and Dave Logan who represented local BMX and scooter enthusiasts.
The new skatepark can be found just behind the tennis courts in the Valley Gardens.