Dracaena Playing Fields skateboard park design submitted

Maverick Industries has submitted a new design for the park in Dracaena Playing Fields on behalf of Falmouth Town Council with the park size reduced and the site moved slightly to the north. The town council was originally granted planning permission for the park in 2019.

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In its design statement the Poole based company said this is the provision of a facility Falmouth has been lacking since the old skatepark was demolished.

"A vibrant riding community in Cornwall and beyond have been waiting for this for years and the economic benefits this can bring to Falmouth through skate tourism simply cannot be discounted," it said. "It will be a facility Falmouth will be proud to promote and the potential for the physical wellbeing of its potential users is undisputed. We commend the design as a beacon of excellence throughout Cornwall.

It says a non-skater would hardly recognise that the design had changed which gives continuity to the design development and the design was arrived at in tandem with the lead representatives of the user group.

A 3D image of the new skate park design. Picture Maverick Industries/Cornwall Council planning register

It has increased the number of parking spaces in the original application from 11 to 12 plus a disabled bay and the car parking area has been repositioned

The tarmacadam base that used to house the old skatepark is due to be removed and returned to grass

The company says the final design of the skatepark has taken years to arrive at to meet the needs and wishes of the local riding community. It will be constructed from free form spray concrete with a natural off white/ cream colour once cured.

Galvanised steel edging will be inserted into any ledge that could possibly be used for “grinding” by users as a protection measure to guard against chipping and general degradation. The style of design removes any need for ugly galvanised handrails. Four black Glasdon Chieftain steel litter bins have been specified within the design along with four benches set at varying points around the park.

An American style fire hydrant feature – unconnected to any water supply - has been put in for both visual interest as well as a legitimate skate feature. Three removable bollards at the entrance to the skate park are also specified, this is to act as a barrier and a defined delineation between the start of the skatepark and start.

The design company says given the site is set in “a green environment” it is essential that the design will sit well in the site, conserving the landscaping values.

"We believe the skatepark does this extremely well and will actually enhance the visual aspect of the site, especially when it is compared to what used to be there and its residual tarmacadam pad," it said.

"The site is already well screened from the housing on Dracaena Avenue and to help the new development’s screening from wider vantages within the playing fields site, the upright perimeter edges of the park will have gently sloping bunds formed leading to the edge of a platforms."