Why are we building new skate parks?

    We know that skateparks are an important place for people, young and old and we understand there is currently unmet demand for skate opportunities throughout the city.

    We have committed funding to deliver skateparks in the Wollongong City Centre and Northern suburbs, as well as moving forward on the purchase and delivery of mobile skate equipment in the region. These plans are listed in our Delivery Program 2022-2026, and they’re a priority for us to deliver.

    We are committed to supporting emerging and unstructured sport and recreation pursuits, including skate/scooter/BMX facilities – particularly in light of the increased popularity of BMX cycling and the inclusion of skateboarding as Olympic sport. We have plans to provide infrastructure to support this style of recreation activity, and our commitment is covered in the Sportsgrounds and Recreation Facilities Strategy 2022-2027.

    We are working to deliver on our promise and create state of the art facilities that are meaningful for our community.

    Where are the new skate parks?

    • Wollongong City Centre
    • Thirroul
    • Port Kembla
    • Mobile skatepark with a rotating location

    Where will the sites be for the new skateparks?

    Once we collect all the information from our community on who they are and how they use skateparks, we will see how it works with the sites we are considering. 

    News on locations in Thirroul and Wollongong will be announced soon. When we move further into the site specific engagement, we will let the community know what site we think is most suitable. We will look to ask the community questions as part of the in-person design workshops and surveys on what they think of the site for a new skatepark for both Thirroul and Wollongong.

    What kind of parks will the Wollongong City Centre and Thirroul skateparks be?

    The Wollongong City Centre park will be a regional level park. This will be a larger skate facility that will be able to hold a large number of skatepark users and cater for varying abilities. 

    Thirroul will be a neighbourhood level park This means it will be smaller in size and cater for the local needs of the community. 

    How will you make sure these skateparks will be friendly and safe for women, girls and gender diverse people?

    We have committed to ensuring the design of the new skateparks are considerate of the variety of users. We will ask the community who are interested in using our future skateparks what elements they like that make them feel safe in a space like a skatepark. 

    We will work with the awarded designer of the park for their expertise and knowledge of what elements and features are needed for a skatepark to feel safe and inviting. 

    We will also work internally with our Community Development staff, which include our Youth Services team, Community Safety and Disability and Inclusion Officers to provide their input and previous knowledge they have around the sites. As they work with the community on a daily basis, our Community Development team can provide valuable knowledge and expertise in what actually makes a skatepark feel safe and inclusive for women and gender diverse people in our community. 

    Why is the Port Kembla Skate Space different to Wollongong and Thirroul?

    The Port Kembla Community Skate Space project is a grass-roots initiative, where the community has led the consultation and design of the park with the community to date. The Port Kembla Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PKCCI) were successful in receiving a $500k grant from the NSW State Government and the Port Kembla Community Investment Fund. Since July 2023, the PKCCI has been working with the skatepark users in Port Kembla to design their dream community skate space. We are now asking the community to provide their feedback on the preferred location for a community skate space in King George V Oval. The community can do this by visiting the Port Kembla Community Skate Space and completing the online survey. Feedback closes 15 April 2024.

    Will the Port Kembla Community Skate Park still go ahead?

    The Port Kembla Chamber of Commerce and Industry has secured funding for a new local level skate space. Wollongong Council is assisting the Chamber in planning and design for this facility. The feedback currently open for consultation is confirming whether the preferred location proposed by the PKCCI is supported by the community. Community feedback is important to us. It will outline our next steps in planning for a skate space in Port Kembla. You can view the project page here - Port Kembla Community Skate Space. 

    What is happening with the mobile skate park?

    In August 2023, Council heard from almost 400 people what their preferred piece of equipment would be for a mobile skate park. A 'single large mini ramp' was the most popular. We are currently procuring the most suitable piece for the community. Once the choice is finalised, we will promote to the broader community where the mobile park will land first and how often it will be rotated. 

    Who will be able to use the mobile skate park?

    The mobile skate facility will be designed for basic to intermediate level users.

    What can the community comment on and what happens to my feedback?

    The survey and ideas tool will form as the basis of information will will use to work with our skatepark designer when the time comes. It will also inform important things like our 'Play Strategy' and 'Sports and Recreation Strategy'. When we work to design the skateparks in their location, we will go back to the community for input about the design, look and feel.