Published on Monday, 1 October 2012 at 12:00:00 AM
More than 200 youth and residents from Paraburdoo and Tom Price continue to enjoy the redeveloped Skate Park in Tom Price that was officially launched on Saturday 27th October, 2012.
The launch kicked off with Skateboarding Australia coaches Ben Bowring, Quayde Baker, James Ahern and Luke Shalders teaching youth the moves in skateboarding clinics. Children of all levels and ages participated - for some it was their very first time on a skateboard.
The skatepark was designed by Convic who engaged professional skaters and landscape designers along with consultations with the local community to create a facility unique to Tom Price.
Steve Kassab, Convic General Manager said the park was designed to cater to all ages and skill levels with shallow elements for the younger or beginners to the deeper mini-ramps and cantilever banks for the more advanced.
“The park has also been designed to work with the natural landscape so that it’s an integrated space working within the trees, orientating the park to the sun, having visible elements from the road and sidelines and maximizing the views for visibility, safety and security,” said Mr Kassab.
The facility is now regarded as one of the best Skate Parks in WA by Skateboarding Australia.
Besides improving physical fitness, mental alertness, balance and coordination, skate parks offer opportunity for youth to develop important social values.
Recent studies reveal that skate parks facilitate the development of social skills, including cooperation, communication, acceptance, tolerance and patience. It also helps to build self-esteem and confidence which transfers to other areas of an individual’s life.
“You can see that the older skaters who are using the facility coaching the younger ones and they learn respect,” said Mr Kassab. “They will wait for somebody to finish their rolling and will have a natural courtesy for other skaters. This also allows them to learn to manage their own risk as they progress.”
Cr Cecilia Fernandez officially opened the Tom Price Skate Park, and the facility was proudly funded by Lotterywest, Rio Tinto and the Shire of Ashburton.
Read the full article in Inside Ashburton magazine
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