An interim measure to facilitate skateboarders in the city has been put to the council and to skaters this week in a bid to address the urgent need for a skateboard park in Kilkenny.
It was announced at a public meeting organised to discuss the future provision of a skate park in Kilkenny by local activist Mick Greene, that funding in the region of what was required to build a permanent skate park would not be forthcoming this year from the local authority as a result of cuts in local government spending.
Mr Green told a meeting of up to 70 skaters, residents’ groups, council members, and others that if a commitment of between €7,000 and €10,000 was given by the council that a temporary modular skate park could be provided for the young skaters of Kilkenny.
Young people were sceptical at first at the suggestion, as were some of the members attending.
“Following my conversations with senior borough council officials recently it is clear that there are no funds available for a permanent structure that would cost in the region of €400,000, so this is the next best thing. This would be a trial run, something that the skaters could use now,” said Mr Greene.
Currently skateboarders are making more use out of the newly refurbished Parade than anyone else, and most people are anxious that a more appropriate location be found for the skaters to practise their sport.
Meanwhile Mayor Malcolm Noonan is not so adamant that the Parade be elusive to skaters.
“I think it might be a nice idea to host a skating weekend on the Parade as a temporary measure. It would be a great public display and people would get to see the skill of the sport first hand,” he said.
Mayor Noonan is also open to the use of a temporary modular park in the city.
“In previous years the skaters were not willing to explore this option, but I think now in this very different climate that they are more willing to entertain other options. It’s the location of the facility that is the problem, even still,” he added.
There has been ongoing controversy about the proposed location for the park, which is the Closh, close to the cinema. Local residents are adamant that they do not want the facility on their doorstep. Mick Greene asked the local councillors present at Wednesday night’s meeting to make a commitment to provide between €7,000 and €10,000 in next year’s budget to rent a modular skate park until sufficient funds are available to build a concrete skate park. Mick Greene outlined possible alternative sites to The Closh, most notably James Stephen’s Swimming Pool, the Watershed, the Castle Park, and the Market Yard.
“Because of the funding situation nationally, alternative sources of funding need to be explored including corporate sponsorship and local fund raising,” he said.
Cllr Andrew McGuinness who also attended the meeting on Wednesday night said that he agrees that an interim measure is appropriate until the council can come up with the funds required for a permanent park. However, Cllr McGuinness is adamant that the Closh is not the right location for the structure.
“The residents don’t want it there and the skaters don’t want to be where they are not wanted so I think we need to come up with an alternative location. Either the Watershed or the Castle are more appropriate locations for a skate park. But first we have to see what finances are available at our budget meeting next week,” he pointed out.
