Skatepark in South East London

ben laden - you riding/skating/walking?*

Umm prolly on foot. Going to the Telegraph with a pal after to meet our laydeez, come along ...

lemme contact mission control.

Heading over with Mr.Sportif

It's odd really. If you go to Stockwell, it's quite stereotypical of a skatepark, lots of kids, lots of noise, the occaisional frank exchange of views.

When I was skating at Peckham Rye and Belair, it was always nice and relaxed. Usually a mix of teenagers and adults up into their thirties. In fact when the Peckham Park was initially suggested as an option in a community meeting, Stockwell was cited as a reason it shouldn't happen. I raised Belair as an example. I was able to point out that people were already travelling from the Peckham Rye area to Belair, demonstrating a level of demand and interest for the facility and I think that helped to get it through.

Definitely worth adding that where skatepark facilities are installed there is usually a marked downturn in skater related anti-social behaviour and damage to other public facilities. This is part of the reason why Southbank elected to tolerate skating and later appreciated the contribution that skaters made to the local culture, taking an otherwise dismal space, frequented by rough sleepers and drug users, and turned it into something more vibrant. Also a key reason why the freerunners adopted the space as well.

I don't know the parks at Belair and Peckham, but I take your point: skateparks don't necessarily mean antisocial behaviour: this a point worth making at the meeting.

Not sure I agree that the South Bank elected to tolerate skating, rather that they went from tolerance to intolerance and back and forth over the years (remember when the bars went up at the foot of the banks and bank to wall, and the pebbles on the loading bay? Or turned out the lights?) Then took away most of the space we liked skating in, but left a bit where everyone could see it, along the river. Though I agree that skating is more valued now by the SB authorities. It's true that we in some senses saved the riverside from being a completely scary underworld place back in the 80s - it's really nice to hear someone else say that cos I feel like I'm going mad sometimes when i go down there, and remember how desolate and unwelcoming it used to be. Winstan tried to show this in the Rollin through the Decades film ... have you seen it?

Cool, nice one sorethroat.

aight - sarah will meet us at the public house, too.

Nice. She will find Katya and some pals there if we're not there yet.

Wait, how long will the meeting go on for?

Though I agree that skating is more valued now by the SB authorities. It's true that we in some senses saved the riverside from being a completely scary underworld place back in the 80s - it's really nice to hear someone else say that cos I feel like I'm going mad sometimes when i go down there, and remember how desolate and unwelcoming it used to be. Winstan tried to show this in the Rollin through the Decades film ... have you seen it?

No, I should check it out though.

I only arrived in London in 1997. Around that time it was a bit of a clash. Southbank, Shell Centre and the big six would draw tons of skaters on a sunday afternoon. The fun police would go on a rampage and they started calling in the actual police to try and move us. Anti skate measures got slapped al over the place. At the same time skating was on a massive upswing and it wasn't unusual to turn up to find Mike Manzari or Pete Hellicar out for a session. Suddenly there was that middle class tipping point, we weren't just a part of the Southbank, we were an attraction.

It's tapered off again, but it'll be back soon, the click clack of wheels on flagstones will always haunt the southbank. More ears perk up these days, heads turn hoping for a glimpse of something a bit magical. Skating has withstood the test of time. You can't take that away.

Telegraph Hill is a bullshit, elitist (yet 'liberal') area which apparently is a 'great community' but in reality its organised and lead by local (cough white) middle aged professionals who speak on behalf of everyone in the area despite the socio-economically diverse population in the area.

Ironically the children of such people would be the ones to benefit most from a skatepark being built as they are currently targeted by local 'hoodies' etc in 'the lovely park' and around the school as the 'skater dudez' who have nowhere to go and have no interaction with older people in the area who would prevent such things from happening if just through their presence. (skaterz brothership)

Askes is a microcosm of the area. As well as their private sector brethren, they are also 'partnered' with Knights Academy which is a shite school.

In a way its good that the area is organised and they are able to stop 'big companies' from bulldozing whatever they see fit and replacing every public square with flats but it also means that this attitude is rubbed off onto any sort of development and its not 'truly democratic'.

Sorry not to make it, but was listening to jeremy vine this afternoon about people complaining at noise from playgrounds at primary schools.

http://brockleycentral.blogspot.com/2010/09/skate-park-under-threat-from-enemies-of.html

Telegraph Hill is a bullshit, elitist (yet 'liberal') area which apparently is a 'great community' but in reality its organised and lead by local (cough white) middle aged professionals who speak on behalf of everyone in the area despite the socio-economically diverse population in the area.

Ironically the children of such people would be the ones to benefit most from a skatepark being built as they are currently targeted by local 'hoodies' etc in 'the lovely park' and around the school as the 'skater dudez' who have nowhere to go and have no interaction with older people in the area who would prevent such things from happening if just through their presence. (skaterz brothership)

Askes is a microcosm of the area. As well as their private sector brethren, they are also 'partnered' with Knights Academy which is a shite school.

In a way its good that the area is organised and they are able to stop 'big companies' from bulldozing whatever they see fit and replacing every public square with flats but it also means that this attitude is rubbed off onto any sort of development and its not 'truly democratic'.

Just saw this Aleksi.

Good stuff. I know you know that i know a lot of what you say rings true.

The scheme is going to be funded by a body whose stated aims, all based around youth-initiated social and sport projects, included assisting young white urban males in particular - so for some reason their needs are seen to be pressing, whatever their percieved social status. What I'm trying to say is: just because someone is white, they aren't necessarily rich, well rounded, in permanent education or work, just as someone who may be of other ethnic backgrounds may well be those things. So it's a bit lazy to pigeonhole kids who play at Telegraph Hill as necessarily affluent or whatever. My experiences of using the current play facilities there are that quite a mix of people are motivated to come to use the park. Also this park will easily be accessible to people in Brockley, New Cross, Nunhead and Deptford.

What is the problem between skateboarding and the general public? There is nothing wrong with providing a place for kids to go tear it up on their boards! Ridiculous. I think they need to worry about the scum robbing people at knife point. I bet they are old fucking old. Old pensioners always gave me mouth over skating when I was younger. Fuck them, skate and destroy.

Well, middle aged and a few more venerable folk.

There are certain problems with this proposal since the park is pretty small. But not insurmountable ones. I reckon the noise issue may well be the sticking point, though they're making it from concrete not wood or metal.

I am a firm believer that skateparks are a great idea for kids (and grown up kids!), keeping them away from naughtier pursuits.

I was involved with the setting up of the Playsation skatepark under the Westway, and it had so many beneficial affects for the local kids, and definitely helped keep a fair few from straying.

Would be great to see something like the Skate Plaza, and Safespot Skate Parks, that Rob Drydek was behind in the US.

Reigate has a cracking little skate park, in the priory grounds (bit like clapham common kind of space), that i think is a really good example of a well thought out park, which fits into the community. The council even organise free skateboard lessons, and safety sessions at the park

Noce one Vinyl Villain.

This is really meant to be a tiny local spot that serves the kids who maybe are a bit young for traipsing around London for spots. It's really minscule, but the design is not bad I think.

Skatepark gets go ahead :)

http://www.mercury-today.co.uk/news.cfm?id=43067&searchword=skatepark

awesome!
i've just been reminiscing about the southbank and the shell centre. i was about 12 when i first started skating southbank, the bit that they then closed off was actually my favourite bit.
me in my spitfire shirt, rolling on my pig deck...
i havent had a sesh at the southbank in bloody ages.

Sick. This is so bloody close to my place as well.

Just been reading through this thread, I just moved to Telegraph Hill and was soooo stoked to find out they are building a park in the lower park, the plan is a really good use of space as well. It looks like it would limit the number of simultaneous skaters to 2 or 3 as well which would limit the noise levels.
Also it would appear that there are a couple of former Milton Keynes residents in the area, I also just moved here from MK, funny to see others who obviously ride fg/ss and skate having moved to the same area.

funny to see others who obviously ride fg/ss and skate having moved to the same area.

Not really.

in this months fixed magazine there is a photo of that oscar dude doing tricks with canary wharf in the background ? that skate park / bmx parks looks ace ? anyone know which one it is / where it is ?

i havent seen the article, but there is a park on the island of dogs and one in mile end