A popular skate park in Colwick has been demolished following serious health and safety concerns.
Gedling Borough Council took the decision to close the Joshua Dale Skate Park, which was built in 2013, back in February after it triggered safety concerns.
Work to remove the popular park, based off Mile End Road, took place this week and it is unlikely to be replaced for some time. It is hoped that a concrete park could replace the removed wooden facility in the future.
The park was built in memory of local teenager and BMX enthusiast Joshua Dale. The 14-year-old died when he was knocked off his bike by a car in January 2012. The late teenager’s dream had been to build a skate park near his home so friends and family raised thousands of pounds to build the park.
Leader of Gedling Borough Council, Councillor John Clarke MBE said: “It is with regret that the skate park has had to be removed due to it being dangerously unsafe to use.
“The facility was built in the memory of Joshua Dale and was funded, maintained and managed by the Joshua Dale Skate Park Fund Charity supported by the Parish Council as a way to remember this young man taken from us so tragically.
“The skate park has been a very popular place for local skaters and, unfortunately, over the past few years, the park’s wooden structure has deteriorated and the charity and local Parish Council have not been able to fund the repairs.
“The skate park was built on council land so when it was clear that the structure was no longer safe, we had to make the difficult decision to close it and now remove it. We have been in regular dialogue with the local Parish Council about the situation who were in agreement with the decision to remove it.
He added: “We will now review the site and engage with the local community to see what options there are to provide something there in the future subject to funding.”
Former Colwick councillor Meredith Lawrence is one of the trustees of the Joshua Dale Skate Park Fund charity.
He said: “Due to extreme deterioration and the prohibitive costs of maintenance over the years, the skate park has had to be demolished. The charity that manages it is considering some sort of replacement in the long term and further progress on this will be posted on our social media channels.”
Many expressed their sadness about the demolition on social media.
One local resident posted: “I’m sad to see it go and I hope something can be built in its place to keep the memory of Josh.
“It was a well-used park that brought children together. Hopefully it can be rebuilt using some council tax money and funding from local businesses.”
Did no one actually think how the maintenance of the skate park was going to be paid for? Any project of this type has to have a life cost of the project including replacement, repairs and H & S requirements built in ! Its fine building the thing but to then leave it rot due to lack of planning is criminal !
What a shame this great public facility has been left to rot, if only the children & parents that used it and appreciated it could have been given the know how to maintain the timber structure it could have gone on for many years to come. I think it should be rebuilt and a maintenance program put in place by the users for the users with community donations for replacement timber, plywood, screws & varnish etc. I’m more than willing to make a donation as I’m sure a lot of parents are if the council agrees to let this happen.