The official opening date for the new Blackman Park Skate Park is 24th April 2024. Lane Cove Council is partnering with The Totem Collective to assist with the official opening. The Totem Collective is a specialist skate boarding company that provides community programs for skaters. The program for the opening will include skating demonstrations, beginner workshops and mentoring for intermediate skaters.
Lane Cove Council in their April Council Meeting Agenda papers has noted:
“The vision for the completed park is an interesting creative facility made of transition style obstacles that are unique and create flow; including a mini ramp, rationalised central spine, quarter pipe, tight quarter pipe, flat bank hip and mellow bank. Convic Pty Ltd commenced works in mid-January and their proposed schedule had the project due for completion in late April 2024”.
Background
After petitions and impassioned pleas to Lane Cove Council, the Blackman Park Skate Park upgrade has started; the construction costs are approximately $1.039M. The works commenced on 8 January 2024 (see our cover photo). The existing skate park will be demolished a new skate park constructed.
Blackman Park Skate Park Upgrade Background
At the Lane Cove Council 22 September 2021 meeting, Councillor Daniel Strassberg tabled a notice of motion requesting the council investigate expanding and improving the Blackman Skate Park (council also resolved to investigate a suitable location for a bike jumps park, similar to that in Castle Cove).
At the public forum before the 2021 meeting, Olivier (who was six years old at the time) made the presentation below on the need for an upgrade to the skatepark. The existing skatepark is located on an old quarry at Blackman Park. In Lane Cove Council’s playground strategy, the skate park is noted as being constructed before the Year 2000.
It’s not the first time that a petition has been lodged with the Lane Cove Council requesting a skate park. In 2014 a petition was presented to council asking for another skate park to be built at Bob Campbell Oval in Greenwich.
Blackman Park Skate Park Concept Design Process
Lane Cove Council engaged a consultant to prepare concept plans and to speak to residents about the design.
The Council’s Consultants (Convic) prepared a pre-design consultancy report – you can read the report here.
Two community workshops were held in October 2022. At the workshops Council’s consultants were able to gain an insight into how the community currently use the skate park and what the community would like to see in a new skate park.
The workshop participants were shown nearby skate parks (Ryde Skatepark was the most popular – also designed by Convic). They were shown images of the different skate park elements/styles of skating to choose from: street and plaza, bowl, and transition. Consideration was also given to differing skill levels, other users (e.g. scooters), themes and identity and other amenities (e.g. bubblers, seating).
Further community workshops were held in February 2023, where participants were asked if they would like to make any changes to the Consultant’s draft concept. The information was collected via in-person questionnaires and online surveys, resulting in feedback from 59 end users and community members. Based on the feedback several changes were made, including:
- Relocation of entry gate to Council stockpile/mulch area – allowing expansion to accommodate a mini ramp
- Addition of street elements
- The addition of a flat bar
- Consideration of shade over the seating area
- Addition of a drinking fountain
- Central spine feature rationalised
- Anti-climb fence proposed to north edge
- Art sculpture added
The final concept plan was approved in March 2023.
What Does the Final Concept Plan Look Like?
The final concept plan is based on the following:
Transition Style Typology – Participants favoured a transition-style park with the inclusion of some street elements. Skate facilities consist of three distinct styles: plaza, transition, and combination (In skateboarding terms, transitional forms are curved, like quarterpipes)
Intermediate Skill Level – The design provides for skill progression, allowing beginners through to advanced levels, noting that most current users are intermediate.
Skate Vision- An interesting creative facility made of unique transition-style obstacles that create flow, including a mini ramp, rationalised central spine, quarter pipe, tight quarter pipe, flat bank hip and mellow bank.
User and Spectator Amenity – A space for spectators and different user groups with break-out areas, a drinking fountain and shade.
Iconic Elements and Local Identity – A range and choice of benefits and experiences that include active and passive recreation within a natural bushland setting.
Safe Access – Anti-climb fence to north edge plus relocation of entry gate.
The skate park will also include lighting.
Who Has Been Appointed to Construct the Skate Park?
In late 2023, Lane Cove Council called for tenders, and Convic Pty Ltd was appointed to demolish and construct the new skate park.
On its website, Convic lists the following credentials:
“Convic creates communities. As one of the global leaders in Skate Park and Youth Space Solutions, Convic has created more than 800 action sports facilities around the world.
Successfully partnering with governments and developers around the world, Convic has developed a global reputation for innovation and quality, building a wealth of national and international knowledge and experience in the process.
Convic’s multi-award-winning portfolio of safe, social youth spaces has enriched communities across the planet. With extensive experience as a specialist main contractor along with a team of in-house landscape architects, skate park designers and civil and structural engineers, Convic can offer a selection of proven skate park plans or create a unique, custom solution.”
In October 2023, Lane Cove Council called for an expression of interest to develop a public art sculpture to be installed near the skate park.
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