After months of community consultation and construction, St Leonards skaters now have their very own skate park.
Geelong mayor Trent Sullivan, councillors Jim Mason and Elise Wilkinson and member for Bellarine Alison Marchant joined local representatives to celebrate the official opening of the skate park on Friday, December 15.
The $670,000 facility, funded in partnership by the City of Greater Geelong and the state government, includes a wide range of skating features such as quarter pipes, rails and a mini-ramp, new sheltered and seating areas, a drinking fountain and smart pole.
Previous works, completed in February this year, saw the skate park’s previous incarnation demolished and the installation of two combined basketball/futsal goals and two netball rings.
Community support for the park was strong, spearheaded by Bellarine Secondary College student Ethan Coleman, who gathered 800 signatures for a petition to present to Geelong council and was given special acknowledgement at the official opening.
Councillor Mason highlighted the importance of physical activity for young people.
“Investing in the St Leonards Skate Park upgrade encourages and supports the holistic well-being of the youth in the area, promoting a healthier and more fulfilling life,” Cr Mason said.
“The completed St Leonards Skate Park stands as a testament to the positive outcomes achievable through collaborative community efforts and investment in recreational infrastructure.”
Ms Marchant thanked the community and young people who advocated for this project.
“This is a great outcome for the town of St Leonards and will give the community another active space to gather, have fun and enjoy the outdoors,” Ms Marchant said.
